|
 |
An der
schönen blauen Donau:
The Blue Danube Waltz - a part of world politics
Johann Strauß jun. |
Johann Strauß planned his career with great accuracy. In 1867 he wanted to win Paris for himself and his compositions - the town where the Second French Empire unfolded its glory in the World Exhibition. For this purpose he travelled to Breslau where the Royal Prussian director of music Benjamin Bilse (director of music to His Majesty King of Prussia) from Liegnitz gave concerts with a good orchestra. The quality of the orchestra is reflected in the fact that part of it later became the basis of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Bilse was willing to organise concerts in Paris and to contract Johann Strauß as a visiting conductor for the dance music.
The Austrian Ambassador in Paris was Lord Richard Metternich, the son of the former Austrian Chancellor Lord Metternich, who had died in London in 1852 and whose wife Lady Pauline Metternich was very active in society and in cultural matters. On May 28, 1867 one of the most beautiful and brilliant festivities was arranged in the Austrian Embassy. Strauß conducted the Bilse orchestra and also played the Danube Waltz. All the celebrities that Paris housed at the time were present on this occasion, first of all Emperor Napoleon III himself and his wife Eugénie. Johann Strauß could not have desired a better entry into the world metropolis of Paris. Politically those activities intended to promote a pro-Austrian and an anti-Prussion mood - an attempt which was foiled by the execution of Emperor Maximilian in Mexico. Emperor Maximilian was Emperor Franz Josephs brother. By Napoleon III he had been tempted to embark on the Mexican venture, by assuming the title "Emperor of Mexico", which ended with his defeat, his imprisonment and his execution.
Vienna and the Danube 
|
|
