Vienna celebrates Johann Strauss: A centenary full of music and magic!

With a spectacular start on January 1, 2025, Vienna ushered in the Johann Strauss 2025 festival year, which is dedicated to the 200th birthday of the famous waltz composer. On New Year's Eve, the town hall square was transformed into a magnificent open-air stage, while a breathtaking midnight gala took place in the concert hall. Around 30,000 people flocked to the town hall square to experience the opening concert, which was accompanied by the MyGroove SUPERBAND under the direction of the well-known percussionist Martin Grubinger. The audience was thrilled with a unique performance and big names like Thomas Lang and Max Mutzke - an impressive start to the new year.

“With this brilliant double start, we are sending a strong signal for the diversity and radiance of Johann Strauss and his music,” explained Roland Geyer, the festival year’s director. The program will not only carry on the musical traditions, but will also include innovative and contemporary interpretations in order to bring the Waltz King's works closer to a wide audience. City Councilor for Culture Veronica Kaup-Hasler emphasized that Johann Strauss embodies the city's attitude to life like no other Viennese composer, and that this anniversary offers a special opportunity to celebrate his influence beyond the usual concert halls k.at reported.

Extensive celebrations planned

The festival year includes over 250 days of performances at 69 locations in all 23 districts of Vienna, with 65 different productions planned as part of the celebrations. The newly founded Johann.Strauß-Festjahr 2025 GmbH, under the artistic direction of Roland Geyer, is working to carry Johann Strauss' son's message of joie de vivre out into the world. According to City Councilor for Finance Peter Hanke, this is justified for a budget of 20 million euros because the connection between Vienna and Johann Strauss is inseparable. The festival year offers the opportunity to celebrate the musical diversity and the composer's legacy in a lively way and to strengthen the city of Vienna as a cultural metropolis ots.at informed.