Prelude to a Series of Productions Dedicated to the Preservation of the Works of Oscar Straus

 

Oscar Straus (1870 -1954) ranks alongside Franz Lehár, Leo Fall, Edmund Eysler, and Emmerich Kálmán, among the five prominent and internationally successful composers of the Silver Age of Viennese Operetta, which spanned roughly the first third of the 20th century. Among these five, he was the only one who, as a young man, had the opportunity to present some of his works to Johann Strauss. He received the following advice: „Don’t bother with heavy symphonies – write waltzes instead; that’s where your true talent lies“. Following the reestablishment of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna in 1946, Oscar Straus served for a time as a member of its honorary presidium. Since its original founding in 1936, the Society has been committed not only to the cultivation of the works of the „Waltz King“, but also to his broader musical milieu. For this reason, it began in the year 2000 to intensify its engagement with the works of Oscar Straus. The immediate occasion was the composer’s milestone birthday, which fell on 6th March of  that year, marking the 130th anniversary of his birth.

On 25th March, 2000, a concert entitled „Hommage à Oscar Straus“ took place in the splendid ceremonial hall of the historic municipal building in Vienna’s Landstraße district, a fine example of Gründerzeit architecture. The patronage was assumed by Inge Prebil-Straus, the composer’s granddaughter. The performers were members of the Classical Operetta Ensemble Vienna: Susanne Fugger (soprano), Terese Gardner (soprano), Martina Claussen (mezzo-soprano), and Peter Widholz (tenor). The latter was also responsible for designing the programme and acted as host for the evening. The musical direction was provided by Herbert Prikopa, who accompanied the singers on the piano. Throughout the evening, Peter Widholz guided the audience through the key stages of Oscar Straus’s life, each illustrated with carefully chosen musical examples. The programme featured cabaret songs from his early years in Berlin, alongside excerpts from his most celebrated operetta, A Waltz Dream. Particular emphasis was placed on stage works that were once internationally successful, but are rarely performed today, including Rund um die Liebe (All About Love), Der tapfere Soldat (The Brave Soldier), and Der letzte Walzer (The Last Waltz).

Towards the conclusion of the programme, the numerous attendees were afforded a particular highlight. Professor Dr. Marcel Prawy, who had hitherto followed the concert from the auditorium, appeared on stage an shared some of his memories of Oscar Straus, with whom he had developed a frienship during his exile in the United States following his flight from the Nazi regime. Prawy did so in the same witty and engaging manner that had characterized his opera introductions for many years, through which he gained great popularity well beyond the circle of opera enthusiasts. In addition, he served as a dramaturge at the Vienna Volksoper, a chief dramaturge at the Vienna State Opera, and as a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

Marcel Prawy opened his contribution to the concert with the following words:

„I greatly enjoyed this evening. It brought my youth back to me. I was very good friends with Oscar Straus. I thank Mr. Widholz – he has put together a delightful programme. The singrs were charming. I would especially like to highlight Herbert Prikopa: I believe the musicians among you will know how incredibly difficult it is to play „Komm, Held meiner Träume“ (Marcel Prawy was referring to the song from the first act of the operetta Der tapfere Soldat , in which Herbert Prikopa accompanied Susanne Fugger) Yes – every single bar requires its own nuance. It was a masterful performance. I truly enjoyed it, Herbert,truly. The old tradition of Paulik, where you learned this,  is still alive in you!“ (Marcel Prawy was referring to the long-standing conductor of the Vienna Volksoper, Anton Paulik, who conducted the premieres of many operettas of the Silver Age of the Viennese Operetta and, as a young conductor, had already worked with musicians who had played under Johann Strauss.)

Since Herbert Prikopa had performed concerts with the Classical Operetta Ensemble Vienna for many years, Marcel Prawy thus certified to the Strauss Society that they were using the authentic interpretation of classical Viennese operetta – an exceptional treasure which the Society continues to safeguard, cultivate, and pass on to future generations. In 2000, it began to focus on doing so specifically in service of Oscar Straus. Many further productions dedicated exclusively to this composer were to follow. Here is a list of all those that have been produced since then by the  Johann Strauss Society of Vienna:

2000:

„Hommage à Oscar Straus“ – festive concert to mark the composer’s 130th birthday

2002:

Production of the operetta „Rund um die Liebe“

2003:

TV recording and CD production of „Rund um die Liebe“

2004:

Production of the operetta „ Nachtfalter“ to mark the 50th anniversary of his death

2008:

Production of the operetta „Der tapfere Soldat“

2010:

„Hommage to Oscar Straus“ – festive concert commemorating the 140th anniversary of his birth. Festive performance of „Rund um die Liebe“ (in the production of 2002) to mark the 140th anniversary of his birth

2013:

Production of the oeretta „Der letzte Walzer“

2014:

„Hommage to Oscar Straus“ – commemorative concert to mark the 60th anniversary of his death

2019:

Production of the operetta „Eine Ballnacht“

2021:

Production of the operetta „Dorfmusikanten“

 

At the performance on 25th March Marcel Prawy completed his comment on Oscar Straus with the words: „ He was a great composer with a very personal touch. There is nothing to add to that.“

 

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