- Eduard Strauss’s polka française, Opern-Soirée, premiered in Vienna in December 1877.1
- While Bohemian in origin, polkas became a popular dance genre for classical composers in Vienna, particularly among the Strauss family. The “polka française” is an example of a stylistic variation developed by classical composers. It’s typically slower in tempo and a more reserved representation of merriment.2
- Fun fact – The event where Strauss premiered Opern-Soirée was the forerunner of today’s Vienna Opera Ball. By imperial decree, attendees of the opera ball were supposed to restrict themselves to listening to the music; however, under Eduard Strauss, the space was cleared for dancing.3
Sources
- Silvia Kargl and Friedemann Pestel, Notes in accompanying booklet, 2019 New Year’s Concert performed by the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Christian Thielemann, Sony 590289, 2019, compact disc.
- “Polka,” Wikipedia (2022), accessed November 10, 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polka.
- Silvia Kargl and Friedemann Pestel, Notes in accompanying booklet, 2019 New Year’s Concert.
Cut IDs
23279