2025 – A whole festival year for Vienna
On the occasion of his 200th birthday, Johann Strauss puts his fans on the edge of their seats. Vienna’s citizens and its guests join to celebrate with the world-famous Viennese.
The world’s most liveable city turns into a dynamic soundscape – in theatres, concert halls, museums, dance halls, public spaces and unusual locations the spotlight is firmly on art.
Even amid thunder and lightning Vienna enjoys life.
Why Vienna?
Because Johann Strauss is not only well-known in the city,
but also world-famous.
Because he was both a genuine Viennese and a citizen of the world.
Because he was both a genuine Viennese and a citizen
of the world.
Because his music is loved across all borders.
Because The Blue Danube is Vienna’s secret anthem.
Because his Fledermaus is the most famous operetta in the world.
Because his melodies embrace millions.
Because his music ushers in the year at the New Year’s Concert
and ends it with the midnight waltz as the year turns.
Because the Viennese waltz is played all over the world,
but is only really at home in Vienna.
Because Vienna is different and, thanks to its native son Strauss, unique in the world.
In short: an anniversary year to partake, to marvel, to explore,
to rejoice and to enjoy – for fun and high spirits!
„An der schönen blauen Donau“
‘The Blue Danube’
by Herwig Zens (1943-2019) /
Photo: Herbert Stadler
With kind permission of Dr. Gerda Zens
Johann Strauss
As famous as Johann Strauss is, there are still new sides to be discovered.
FROM 0 TO 100.000
from A to Z
"ARYANISED"
The Nazis erased his Jewish roots from his family history.
BILLARDS
was Johann Strauss’s favourite game.
COBURG
From 1885, Johann Strauss was a citizen of Coburg.
DANCING
was something he couldn’t do.
ERDÄPFELNUDELN MIT WEINBERLN
Potato fingers with raisins were his favourite food.
FOR PLEASURE
he never went to the theatre or the opera.
GÖTTIN DER VERNUNFT
The Goddess of Reason was his last operetta.
HYPOCHONDRIAC
Strauss had a fear of illnesses of all kinds.
INDIGO
Indigo and the Forty Thieves was his first operetta.
JEAN / SCHANI
was his nickname, from the French “Jean” for Johann.
KAISER FRANZ JOSEPH
had the same tailor as the waltz king.
LETTERS
He wrote suggestive letters to his sister-in-law.
MEYSZNER
Johann Strauss had no children of his own, but adopted Alice Meyszner, the daughter of Adele, his third wife,
from her first marriage.
“NEUROSIS WALTZ”
He was plagued by numerous fears: of poverty, thunderstorms, travelling by train, going blind,
heights and germs.
OPERA
Ritter Pázmán was his only opera.
PNEUMONIA
He died of pneumonia in 1899 in the Wieden district of Vienna.
QUADRILLE
The Fledermaus-Quadrille is the highlight
of every ball event to this day.
RAVEN-HAIRED
He died his hair jet-black.
SUNSHINE
He hated fine weather, found sunshine “repellent”
and never went for walks.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN
the New Year’s concert draws huge audiences
around the world.
UNSTOPPABLE COMPOSING MACHINE
He composed day and night, fuelled by red wine and cigars.
„VON SCHÖNAU, EDLER“
His friends gave him this imaginary title to please him.
“WHAT HAVE I GOT TO DO WITH ME?”
He refused to read his own biography.
X-RATED CARICATURES
The cartoons he liked to sketch included pornographic images.
YOUTUBE
The playlist “The Best of Strauss” has 15 million hits.
ZENTRALFRIEDHOF
He only ever attended one funeral: his own at Vienna’s Central Cemetery.
About Johann.Strauß-Festjahr2025 GmbH
The city of Vienna founded Johann.Strauß-Festjahr2025 GmbH as a company of Wien Holding in late July, 2022. Under the artistic direction of Roland Geyer a creative team is conceiving, inspiring and coordinating a series of festivals centring on the life and works of Johann Strauss for all Viennese and their guests.
Johann Strauss Team
Artistic Director
Roland Geyer
Commercial Director
Simon Posch
Curation & Project Management
for concert (from classical to electronic music), music theatre, dance, literature, drama, exhibition, performance, installation, film & TV, immersive & digital arts, science, education & outreach, art in public space, open-air events
Amanda Augustin, Karin Bohnert,
Elisabeth Geyer, Marie Huber,
Sarah Scherer, Christoph Zauner
Tomas Zierhofer-Kin
Office
Elke Voglmayr, Mirijam Weissenböck
Marketing & Head of Public Relations
Jacqueline Haberl
Finance & Controlling
Miriam El-Sayed
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Newsletter Registration
2025 – a whole year of celebrations for Vienna. But until then, we look forward to welcoming you as a newsletter subscriber and providing you with brand news directly. Thank you in advance for your interest. If you have any questions or suggestions, you can reach us via our contact address kontakt@jost25.at.