Page 42 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

40  INTRODUCING VIENNA THE HIST OR Y OF VIENNA  41

Music in Vienna The music of Franz Schubert Age of Franz Joseph The Moderns
(1797–1828) was little known The 1860s saw the emergence The early years of the 20th
From the late 18th to the mid 19th centuries Vienna was in his short lifetime. He mostly of a new era of music. Johannes century saw the rise of the
the music capital of Europe, and its musical heritage and performed chamber works, Brahms (1833–97) came to Second Viennese School:
magnificent venues remain one of the city’s chief attractions. piano music and songs at Vienna in 1862, and incorp­ Alban Berg (1885–1935),
At first the Habsburgs and the aristocracy were the city’s Biedermeier Schubertiaden – orated popular musical styles Arnold Schönberg (1874–1951)
and Anton von Webern
into works such as his Liebes­
evenings of music with
musical paymasters, but with the rise of the middle classes friends. His music gained lieder waltzes and Hungarian (1883–1945). These composers
during the Biedermeier period (see pp32–3), music became greater recognition following Dances. The Romantic were not well received in
an important part of bourgeois life. Popular music also his death. composer Anton Bruckner Vienna, and Schönberg found
flourished as migration from all parts of the Habsburg Both Johann Strauss I (1824–96) came to the city he had to start his own society
Empire brought in richly diverse styles of music and dance. (1804–49) and Joseph Lanner from Upper Austria in 1868. to get his works, and those of
(1801–43) created a number Johann Strauss II (1825–99) his colleagues, heard. In 1933
of pieces to accompany the rose to the status of civic hero, Jugendstil poster (1901) depicting Johann he emigrated to the USA.
Classicism hugely popular waltz. The waltz composing nearly 400 waltzes, Strauss II Since World War II no
In the 18th century, Vienna’s was a sensation, enjoyed by as well as his famous operetta composers of comparable
musical life was dominated the peasant class and high Die Fledermaus. One popular ensemble of guitars, violins and stature have arisen, though
by the imperial court. The society alike, not least because offshoot of the period was accordion. Popular music also Kurt Schwertsik (born 1935)
composer Christoph Willibald it was the first ballroom Schrammel music, named after influenced Gustav Mahler and H K Gruber (born 1943)
Gluck (1714–87) was court Joseph Schrammel (1852–95) (1860–1911), director of the now attract international
Kapellmeister (in charge of the and characterized by an Vienna Opera for 10 years. attention. However, the Vienna
court orchestra) to Maria Philharmonic, established in
Theresa until 1770, and wrote 1842, is still one of the finest
10 operas specially for Vienna, orchestras in the world. The
including Orpheus and Eurydice State Opera continues to
(1762). His contemporary Performance of enjoy a strong
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Creation (1808) reputation, and Vienna
(1756–91) later built on on Haydn’s birthday also has an abundance
these foundations. of fine orchestras, opera
Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) Romanticism and operetta venues,
moved to Vienna in the 1790s With the arrival chamber ensembles
from Prince Paul Esterházy’s of Ludwig van and choirs, including
palace in Eisenstadt, where Beethoven the Vienna Boys’ Choir.
his house is now a museum (1770–1827)
(see pp178–9), and wrote in Vienna in
masterpieces such as his great the mid-1790s,
oratorio The Creation. the age of the
composer as
romantic hero
was born.
Beethoven was
a controversial
figure in his time, Biedermeier Schubertiade evening
and many of his
most innovative works dance in which couples danced The Johann
were only successful outside clasped closely together. The Strauss II
Vienna. His funeral, however, ladies of Vienna gained renown orchestra at a
was a state occasion, and throughout Europe for the court ball Concert poster (1913) for
Performance of The Magic Flute (1791) was attended by more than grace and tireless energy of Arnold Schönberg
by Mozart 10,000 people. their waltzing.

1797–1828 Johannes Vienna Boys’ Choir
1714–87 Ludwig van Franz Schubert Brahms 1860–
Christoph 1732–1809 Joseph Beethoven 1911 1874–1951 Arnold The world­famous Vienna
Willibald Gluck Joseph Haydn Gustav Schönberg Boys’ Choir, the Wiener
Haydn 1833–97 Johannes Mahler
Brahms Sängerknaben, was founded
in 1498 by that great patron
1700 1725 1750 1775 1800 1825 1875 of the arts, Maximilian I. I.
Today the boys perform
1770– 1825–99 1825–99
1756–91 1827 1804–49 Johann Strauss IIJohann Strauss II 1883–1945 Anton 1885–1935 Masses by Mozart, Schubert
Christoph Wolfgang Ludwig Johann Strauss I von Webern Alban Berg or Haydn on Sundays and
Willibald Amadeus van 1801–43 Joseph 1824–96 Anton 1852–95 Joseph 1852–95 Joseph church holidays at the Burg kapelle (see p105). To obtain a seat
Gluck Mozart Beethoven Lanner Bruckner SchrammelSchrammel you need to book at least eight weeks in advance.

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