The Johann Strauss Society of Vienna captivated the audience with a gala concert featuring ballet in the tradition of the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concerts

 

On 8^th February 1948, the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna (Johann Strauss Gesellschaft Wien) gave its first concert at the Vienna Konzerthaus. The event took the form of a Carnival matinée in the Mozart Hall, the Konzerthaus’s second-largest auditorium. It marked the Society’s first public appearance following its re-establishment after the Second World War. Two years later, as part of the “Vienna Music Week”, the Johann Strauss Society presented its first concert in the Great Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus. During the 1970s and 1980s, this historic venue also served as the Society’s headquarters.

In 2005, the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna returned to this venue, which occupies such an important place in its history, with a major artistic production. On 13^th January, it presented a Strauss Gala in the Great Hall, featuring members of its Classical Operetta Ensemble Vienna together with the Vienna Johann Strauss Capelle under the musical direction of Michael Tomaschek. Dancers from the Vienna Volksoper Ballet joined the performance in choreographies by Monica Rusu. The event was held under the patronage of Hedwig Aigner-Strauss, the matriarch of the Strauss family descendants.The programme was devoted almost entirely to the music of Johann Strauss. Josef Strauss was represented by his quick polka “Ohne Sorgen” (Without a Care), while Johann Strauss the Elder provided the encore par excellence with his celebrated “Radetzky Marsch”. The vocal soloists were Anna Ryan (soprano), Ulrike Vetter (coloratura soprano), Martina Claussen (mezzo-soprano), Friedrich Faltus (baritone) and Peter Widholz (tenor).  He also hosted the programme. The audience rewarded all the artists with warm applause and enthusiastic ovations at the close of the gala.

In its February issue, The Merker published the following review:

A thoroughly solid concert performance, played with gratifying vigor and spirit, was presented by Michael Tomaschek and his Vienna Johann Strauss Capelle. The entire programme was compiled, entertainingly presented, and beautifully sung in the tenor parts by the versatile Secretary General of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna, Peter Widholz, who, with Barinkay’s entrance song from “Der Zigeunerbaron” (The Gypsy Baron) assured the audience “on my honour” that he could do “all that and even more”. An exceptionally well-coordinated dance ensemble with highly athletic soloists from the Ballet of the Vienna Volksoper added variety to the colourful sequence of melodies. Monica Rusu’s choreography was elegant and imaginative, particularly in the lively Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, where every movement was perfectly synchronized with the music’s rhythmic accents. In addition to the already mentioned tenor Peter Widholz, four other vocal soloists also made a favourable impression. Anna Ryan, an Armenian-born soprano of striking stage presence and personality impressed with the power of her voice. Her performance of Rosalinde’s Csárdás from Die Fledermaus was especially well received. Ulrike Vetter delighted the audience with crystal-clear coloratura passages, and her interpretation of the demanding Frühlingsstimmenwalzer (Voices of Spring Waltz) met with enthusiastic approval. Conductor Tomaschek provided her with exquisitely sensitive support from his Capelle, whose musicians – dressed in historic red-and-white uniforms of the former Imperial Court Ball Orchestra – performed in the finest Strauss tradition. Martina Claussen, elegantly dressed in white tie and tails, opened the vocal programme with a spirited rendition of “Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein” . Friedrich Faltus, clearly relishing every moment of Zsupan’s entrance couplet from “Der Zigeunerbaron” rounded out the distinguished ensemble of soloists. (Anton Wendler)

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