Johann Strauss II

Classical Music / Composer's Datebook:  25 October

 

A brief biography of  Johann Strauss II, Austrian composer and conductor, known as "The Waltz King", his waltzes rich in melody and charm.

Johann Baptist Strauss II (25 October 1825 – 3 June 1899), is also known as Johann Strauss Jr., the Younger or the Son (German: Sohn). He was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas and a ballet. 

His most famous of all waltzes, 'TheBlue Danube' was originally entitled 'On the Beautiful Blue Danube', and first performed with verses. Whatever this master of light music set his hand to, the same graceful and elegant Viennese mood of melody shine through. Strauss's other key works include: waltzes 'Roses from the South' and 'Emperor', operetta 'Die Fledermaus' and 'A night in Venice', among others

In his lifetime, he was known as "The Waltz King", and was largely responsible for the popularity of the waltz in Vienna during the 19th century. Some of Johann Strauss's most famous works include "The Blue Danube", "Kaiser-Walzer" (Emperor Waltz), "Tales from the Vienna Woods", "Frühlingsstimmen", and the "Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka". Among his operettas, Die Fledermaus and Der Zigeunerbaron are the best known. 

Strauss was the son of Johann Strauss I and his first wife Maria Anna Streim. Two younger brothers, Josef and Eduard Strauss, also became composers of light music, although they were never as well known as their brother.

Below, enjoy Johann Strauss II's "The Blue Danube Waltz Op 314".  YouTube, uploaded by Lifting Dreams. Accessed October 25, 2022.  With paintings slideshow.  'The Blue Danube' is the common English title of 'An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314' (German for "By the Beautiful Blue Danube"), a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866. (Johann Strauss II has no relation to composer Richard Strauss, famous for symphonic tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra.)

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' Glorious Puccini Messa di Gloria & Opera Highlights

Choral Singing / Classical Music

 

Glorious Puccini: Messa di Gloria & Opera Highlights

Date: Saturday 29 October | 8pm
Venue: Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

Experience the passion and power of Puccini's music sung by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' 300-voice Festival Chorus choristers, four of Australia's star soloists and the talented musicians of The Sydney Youth Orchestra .

 

Image credit: Sydney Philharmonia Choirs
 

How do we love Puccini? Let us count the ways…

There’s his sense of drama and his concern for human stories and real emotion but, above all, we love the glorious, flowing melodies that stay in your ears long after the curtain comes down. We love the sensuousness of Manon Lescaut, the grand tragedy of Tosca, the heart-rending pathos of Madama Butterfly – guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes – and the mystery of Turandot. This is the Puccini we know and love, and for this gala concert, Brett Weymark has assembled highlights to showcase the 400 voices of the Festival Chorus and our soloists – stars of the operatic stage. We’ll be joined by the Sydney Youth Orchestra in full force – performing Puccini’s colourful orchestrations without compromise.            

But first we’ll be revealing a little-known side of Puccini. He might have decided upon a career as an opera composer at the age of 18 – inspired by Verdi’s Aida – but he came from a long line of church musicians and the culmination of his musical studies was the ambitious Messa di Gloria. This rarely heard mass setting hints at the opera composer to come, with generous melodies and the way he brings drama to the ritual. But, above all, it’s 40 minutes of high-octane choral singing – joyous, dancing and, yes, fun!

 

 Credit: Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

PROGRAM

Deborah CHEETHAM & Matthew DOYLE Tarimi Nulay – Long time living here*
Giacomo PUCCINI Messa di Gloria
Highlights from Puccini operas…
Manon Lescaut: Intermezzo
Tosca: Te Deum (Tre sbirri, una carrozza)
Madama Butterfly: Humming Chorus and other highlights from Act II
Turandot: Nessun dorma and other highlights
* Commissioned for our 100 Minutes of New Australian Music project

A digital program book will be available on this page a week prior to the concert. A limited number of printed program books will be available for $5 each at the concert.

ARTISTS

Brett Weymark conductor
Cheryl Barker soprano
Antoinette Halloran soprano
Bradley Daley tenor
Peter Coleman-Wright baritone
Festival Chorus
Sydney Youth Orchestra

TICKETS

Premium $124 | A $101 | B $79 | C $58 | D $45
Concessions $112 | A $90| B $71 | C $52 | D $41
A booking fee of $8.50 per transaction applies.

Review: 

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs: Glorious Puccini. Sydney Arts Guide, written by Annabelle Drumm, 31 October 2022. Accessed 10 Nov 2022.

Interesting Articles:  

Glorious Puccini: Messa di Gloria and Opera Highlights, Sydney Opera House.  AussieTheatre.com.  20 September 2022. Accessed  9 October 2022.

Puccini's Musical Mastery Glows in a Forgotten Mass. The New York Times / Art. By Raymond Ericson, dated April 8, 1984.

Resources:

2022 Season Together Again. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Artistic & Music Director Brett Weymark, OAM

Glorious Puccini: Messa di Gloria & Opera Highlights. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.  (Available on access, 9 October 2022.)

 

COVID-19 SAFETY

• All SPC singers, musicians and staff are double vaccinated.
• Audiences will be required to wear masks throughout the performance. If this changes we will inform patrons as soon as possible.
• Hand sanitiser will be available.
• A digital program book will be available on this page a week prior to the concert. A limited number of printed program books will be available for $5 each at the concert.

DETAILS ABOUT SPC COVID SAFE PLAN

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