IMMORTAL WALTZ

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 62, 31 March 1937, Page 12

IMMORTAL WALTZ

Seventeeth Anniversary of "Blue Danube" VIENNA PREPARES Vienna is preparing the celebratt^n of the 70th anniversary of djohann Strauss' immortal waltz, "The Blue Danube," a^d this festival will be held all ovei the world, where a piano is fouUd, a band is playiug, a gramophone or radio is heard. Johann Strauss, who was born in Vienna on Oetober 25, 1825, was already a famous musician wheu he wrofce jtlio "Blue Danube" waltz, but he surpassed liimself in this catchy tune, a melody better known and by far more popular Lhan almogt all the classic music; it is the classic waltz. On February 15, 1937, it will be 7U years that the "Blue Danube" was performed in a concert for the first time by the Wiener Mannarsgesangs-V erein. The concert was given in the Diapa bath, a fine large swimjning pool built in 1804 and adapted every winter as a concert and dancing hall, but it topk several years till it conquere'd the world as a dancing waltz. In Vienna it was a sueeess of the ehoir only; a few months later au occasipn of the world ;s exhibition in f'aria 1867, Princ'ess Metternich— -the closest i'riend of the Empress Eugenie, invited Strauss for a concert to Paris. There he conducted, among other of M& waltzes also, the " Blue Danube." The success was enormous, and the 0 waltz started its way around the globe, | Wherever it pnee was heard the waltz [ was never more i'orgotten.