How much do you know about the King of Waltz? Why not find out – and discover fun facts about Johann Strauss in the process?
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No other music embodies Vienna like his!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","picture":{"desktop":"/resource/image/753026/3x2/350/233/dbbc77be5461fe786f2330de024cf343/DA0ACB93B52AE9F6235EBF4A68077D01/ivie-johann-strauss-walk-teaser-en.webp","mobile":"/resource/image/753026/3x2/350/233/dbbc77be5461fe786f2330de024cf343/DA0ACB93B52AE9F6235EBF4A68077D01/ivie-johann-strauss-walk-teaser-en.webp","altText":"ivie Johann Strauss Walk"},"link":"/en/travel-info/ivie-app/strauss-walk-752686"},"buttonText":"Repeat"}],"matomoName":"Johann Strauss Fun Fact Quiz"}
All the information about Strauss
Allow us to suggest the perfect soundtrack for your trip to Vienna through our Johann Strauss Music Test.
Answers
Just to make sure you’re properly informed, of course. You wouldn’t want to cheat, would you?
Answer to Question 1: What is the name of a famous composition by Johann Strauss?
Wiener Kaffee
Wiener Wein
Wiener Blut
Even if the other two liquids sound more tempting, Wiener Blut (op. 354) is one of Johann Strauss’ most famous waltzes. It describes the Viennese easy-going attitude to life.
Answer to Question 2: What was the name of Johann Strauss’ father?
Johann
Josef
Eduard
Johann Strauss’s son inherited more than just his first name from his father: he ultimately also inherited the title of “Waltz King”. His father Johann was a successful composer himself, but was – justifiably – afraid of competition from members of his own family. His other two sons Josef and Eduard were also talented musicians and later worked with Johann II in the Strauss family business. His father’s best-known work is the Radetzky March, which is still the traditional last encore at the Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert.
Answer to Question 3: Which events did Johann Strauss really hate?
Opera performances
Funerals
Weddings
Strauss must have attended innumerable opera performances. He also got married three times. It was, however, funerals that he hated. He was forced to attend only one – his own at Vienna’s Central Cemetery on October 8, 1899. He lies at rest there alongside other world-famous composers such as Beethoven and Falco.
Answer to Question 4: Johann Strauss was occasionally asked by female admirers for a lock of his hair – he cut them off his poodle instead.
Fact
Just a myth
This story is actually true! Back then, it was common for female fans to ask their idol for curls or locks of hair. Due to the sheer volume of requests, Johann had to resort to this trick with his poodle. Otherwise there would probably not have been a hair left on his head.
Answer to Question 5: What kind of beard did Johann Strauss often sport in addition to his moustache?
Goatee
Whiskers
Johann Strauss took great care with his appearance – including his beard. In addition to his moustache, he also often sported whiskers – with a clean shaven chin. Just like on the bust on display in his former apartment.
© WienTourismus/Paul Bauer
Answer to Question 6: In which unusual setting was the Danube Waltz first performed?
Swimming pool
Station concourse
Vienna’s Wurstelprater
Rather fittingly, the world-famous waltz “An der schönen blauen Donau”, op. 314, was premiered in a bathing establishment. This was in 1867 – the version performed in Vienna’s Dianabad included a male choir. However, the performance took place during the winter season when there was no swimming: the pool was covered and the indoor swimming pool was transformed into a concert hall and ballroom. The Dianabad was still open until 2020 – for swimming at least.
© Wien Museum
Answer to Question 7: What was Johann Strauss’ unofficial title?
Polka Prince
Waltz King
Quadrille Kaiser
All three would probably be appropriate – however, Johann Strauss inherited the title Waltz King from his father of the same name. He became an international superstar and toured across Europe and even North America with his orchestra. His worldwide fame has endured to this day.
Answer to Question 8: To which animal did Johann Strauss dedicate his most famous operetta?
Deer (Reh)
Fox (Fuchs)
Bat (Fledermaus)
All three species can be found in the wild in Vienna. Die Fledermaus has become the most famous operetta in the world. It was first performed at the Theater an der Wien in 1874. It was given its title because of a bat costume worn by Dr. Falke, one of the supporting roles, at a masked ball in the operetta. Dr. Falke is ridiculed at the event and takes revenge on the main character Eisenstein by means of an intrigue. In the midst of all the turmoil, several affairs come to light.
© Stadt Wien / Torsten Pröhl
Answer to Question 9: True or false? Johann Strauss himself was a strict non-dancer.
True
False
In fact, the Waltz King himself did not dance. This was convenient, as he was usually standing on the conductor’s podium anyway.
Answer to Question 10: Which of Strauss’ compositions is the unofficial anthem of space?
The Tritsch-Tratsch Polka
The Danube Waltz
The Egyptian March
Director Stanley Kubrick set a milestone in film history in 1968 with his film “2001: A Space Odyssey”. In the film, the spaceships dance through space to the strains of the Danube Waltz. This scene was later quoted so often – including in “The Simpsons” – that the Danube Waltz became inseparably associated not only with Vienna, but even with outer space.