Johann Strauss 2025: Our Guide to a Year of Celebrating The Waltz King in Vienna
The year 2025 marks the bicentenary of Johann Strauss Jr., a significant milestone in the world of classical music. In celebration of this occasion, the city of Vienna has curated a diverse and extensive cultural program consisting of 65 productions and 3 exhibitions at 71 different venues throughout the city. These events encompass a wide range of artistic expressions, from classical concerts to non-classical performances, operetta to spoken theatre, dance to circus, installations to exhibitions, cinema to scholarship.
Looking for insight beyond Strauss? Check out our Vienna: City of Music tour and explore the classical music heritage of Vienna with an expert guide!
Who was Johann Strauss Jr.?
Johann Strauss Jr. was an Austrian composer known for his waltzes, polkas, and operettas. Born in Vienna in 1825, he was the eldest son of composer Johann Strauss Sr., and became known as the “Waltz King” for his contributions to the genre.
Strauss Jr. rose to fame in Vienna during the 19th century, becoming one of the most popular and celebrated composers of his time. His music was known for its catchy melodies, lively rhythms, and elegant orchestration, which captured the spirit and charm of Vienna’s vibrant social scene.
Strauss Jr. was especially renowned for his waltzes, such as “The Blue Danube” and “Tales from the Vienna Woods,” which have become iconic pieces of classical music and are still widely performed and enjoyed today. His operettas, such as “Die Fledermaus” and “The Gypsy Baron,” were also highly successful and helped establish him as a leading composer in the genre.
Aside from his musical talent, Strauss Jr. was also important for his role in popularizing the waltz and bringing it to a wider audience. He helped to elevate the waltz from a simple folk dance to a sophisticated and beloved form of music that continues to be associated with Viennese culture.
Vienna’s Celebrations of Johann Strauss Jr. in 2025
Vienna’s Strauss 2025 program is organized into three main categories:
- “PUR”: Events that highlight Strauss’ original compositions, showcasing his masterful orchestration and timeless melodies that continue to captivate music enthusiasts worldwide.
- “MIX”: Events that explore themes and elements related to Strauss’ music and life, reinterpreting familiar material in innovative and unexpected ways.
- “OFF”: Events that push the boundaries of traditional music performances by presenting Strauss’ music in unconventional settings, aiming to provide audiences with exhilarating and cutting-edge entertainment experiences.
With so many events, it’s hard to know where to start, but we are here to help! Below are our top picks, organized by date, to help you plan your trip to Vienna and celebration of the Waltz King.
Johann Strauss Museum – New Dimensions
Dates: open year round
Category: MIX
The Johann Strauss Museum – New Dimensons is a fully immersive Art & Tech museum celebrating the world-renowned composer. Uniquely structured into seven acts and using innovative technology, visitors to the museum walk through Strauss’s life over the course of a 75-minute experience. Tickets are timed, so be sure to get yours in advance to experience this unique and fascinating exhibition.
Strauss Topographies – A Lecture Series
Dates: various March 1 – June 30
Category: PUR
These lectures delve into the profound impact that Strauss has had on the culture of Vienna. Discussions center on the societal realms and media outlets which have elevated Strauss’ music to the status of a cultural phenomenon unique to Vienna, while also touching upon the significance of archives and libraries in preserving Strauss’ legacy, as well as the ethereal realms his music conjures within the minds of listeners. A full list of the lectures and their dates can be found here.
Tanz Signale
Dates: March 12-16
Category: PUR
Tanz-Signale will feature twenty-two lectures and a variety of musical performances showcasing Johann Strauss Jr. as a remarkable figure in Vienna’s musical history. The program includes a Vienna Strauss Colloquium with a string quartet performance, symposiums with lectures and musical examples, guided exhibition tours, contemporary guitar arrangements, and ensemble scenes from Strauss operettas. A full list of events and dates can be found here.
LichtStrauss
Dates: March 21 – May 25
Category: OFF
Victoria Coeln’s work intertwines light and art to unveil historical and future connections, blurring the boundaries between the seen and the unseen. In LichtStrauss, she turns Vienna’s Stadtpark into a multidimensional stage, showcasing a light installation influenced by fearless female characters from Strauss’ operettas. Featuring contemporary women in unique light environments, this immersive experience challenges societal perceptions of women’s roles in the public domain.
Creatures of the Night: Biodiversity Show
Date: Apr. 5
Category: OFF
In the time of Strauss’ composition of his operettas, the vast expanse of habitats available to bats allowed for a richer and more diverse environment. Through his waltzes, Strauss sought to symbolize a harmonious society where individuals of various social classes and cultural backgrounds could coexist in harmony. In Creatures of the Night, a multi-media, transdisciplinary exhibition on biodiversity, author, DJ, ecologist, and fervent advocate for biodiversity, Dominik Eulberg, will showcase his visionary concepts for a utopian future. Through his exploration of the dichotomy between biodiversity and monoculture, Eulberg aims to shed light on the interconnectedness of social and ecological systems, emphasizing the importance of preserving our planet’s natural diversity.
Im Takt der Zeit
Dates: April 5-20
Category: MIX
Im Takt der Zeit by MODULUX is an audiovisual mapping show that seamlessly blends projection and sound to pay homage to Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. The MuseumQuartier’s façade is transformed into a spectacular canvas, transporting the audience through the world of Strauss from 1825 to the present day.
ROMAbaron
Dates: April 11-13
Category: MIX
ROMAbaron is a contemporary reinterpretation of one of Strauss’ most beloved operettas, told through the eyes of the young Romani character, Saffi. Crafted with poetic prose by Simonida Selimovic and accompanied by an orchestra blending both Western and non-European instrumentation, Alireza Daryanavard’s composition seamlessly weaves together spoken word, musical performances, and visual elements to explore themes of identity, societal stratification, prejudice against the Romani community, and social injustice.
Musique – In the Spirit of Johann Strauss
Dates: May 10-12
Category: MIX
Embarking on a deeply introspective journey, French choreographer Mathilde Monnier and the illustrious Dance On Ensemble immerse themselves in the romantic era of Johann Strauss. Within this realm of swirling melodies and hints of opulence contrasted against shadowy depths, ethereal figures emerge conjuring a mesmerizing universe. Through this exploration, Musique unearths and revitalizes long-forgotten dances, enticing us to partake in the captivating waltz, accompanied by compositions by Judit Varga.
Sing Along Strauss
Date: May 24
Category: PUR
At sunset, partake in Sing Along Strauss, a magical musical experience, in Vienna’s Stadtpark. Amidst the picturesque greenery, meet near the legendary statue of the enchanting Danube Mermaid immortalized by Johann Strauss in his waltz op. 427. Joining forces with talented vocalists, visitors are invited to lend their voice to Strauss’ exquisite compositions in a joyous impromptu choir.
OCT.opus 25
Dates: August 15 – September 13
Category: OFF
God’s Entertainment will present a larger-than-life inflatable spatial sculpture in the shape of an octopus floating on Karlsplatz, offering a unique interpretation of Johann Strauss’ waltzes. Through a symbiosis of Strauss and Donna Haraway, the audience will experience lively and charming interpretations filled with humor and temperament, shedding new light on the classic compositions. The program includes performances such as “Roses from the South” and “Dance of the Sirens” that explore the themes of Johann Strauss’ music in innovative ways. Find a full description of the program and dates here.
Die Fledermaus at Theatre an der Wien
Dates: October 4-24
Category: PUR
Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, his third operetta for Vienna’s Theatre an der Wien, was inspired by a popular French comedy and tailored for the refined tastes of Viennese audiences. Despite its scandalous premiere, the piece was immediately embraced by audiences for its spirited waltz and polka themes. The operetta blurred the lines between entertainment and musical sophistication, as well as social hierarchies, in a unique and groundbreaking manner. Now it returns to the venue it originally premiered in with a new production for Strauss’ bicentenary.
A Night in Venice
Date: October 25
Category: PUR
The operetta A Night in Venice follows the escapades of the Duke of Urbino, a renowned womanizer, along with his clever aide Caramello. However, the women in the story have their own plans, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings and mistaken identities. Director Nina Spijkers brings a fresh perspective to this classic work by Johann Strauss Jr. with carnival pranks as the catalyst for the chaos in the plot.
Junge Theatre in ¾ Time
Dates: November 17-23
Category: OFF
Three interdisciplinary productions hosted by Junge Theater Wien, designed specifically for youth, will take place in November 2025. Among these productions is Ball by theater. nuu offering a waltz concert tailored for the amusement of toddlers; Fledermäuse by schallundrauch agency taking on an innovative approach by drawing parallels between the social dynamics of bats, including their unique echolocation and use of ultrasound, and the narrative of Strauss’ well-known operetta; and lastly, Wo ist Walzer? by kollektiv kunststoff, geared towards audience members aged 14 and above, delving into the significance of the concept of “home.”
Fleder-Strauss
Dates: Nov. 25 – Dec. 31
Category: OFF
In the midst of the Strauss-year of 2025, a collective of artists embarks on a grand voyage across the globe, intent on disseminating the profound message of Johann Strauss’ illustrious life and creations through the medium of operetta. Unforeseen events occur due to their impassioned portrayal of Strauss’ work, causing their aircraft to crash. The troupe then finds themselves battling against nature’s fury and potentially each other. This physical-musical play by Serapions Theatre and das.bernhard.ensemble, Fleder-Strauss, seeks to interact with Strauss’ compositions in a completely new way.
Need more recommendations?
Looking to delve deeper into the life of Johann Strauss Jr. or any of the other musical geniuses who once lived in Vienna? In addition to our Vienna: City of Music tour, we can offer customized touring for your trip to the city to fit your specific interests. You can also check out our Classical Music Lover’s Guide to Vienna as well as any of our other Vienna blogs to help you plan your trip.
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