The city park and the most photographed monument in Vienna How long has the monument to the King of the Waltz been in Vienna’s Stadtpark? Why was Johann Strauss’ son also called a “womanizer”? Where did he often and gladly give concerts? Which is probably his most famous work? The city park is located along the Ringstrasse and was opened as the first public park in 1862 . It is considered the park with the most monuments in Vienna. The highlight is the golden monument of Johann Strauss son . Everyone knows the famous Danube Waltz, the “secret anthem of Austria”. At the inauguration of the statue in 1921, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra played the waltz “On the Beautiful Blue Danube“, as it is properly known. Johann Strauss Sohn was called the “Waltz King” because of the large number of waltzes he composed. He also liked to give concerts in the city park, namely in the adjacent building – in the Kursalon Hübner . The Kursalon has remained a concert venue to this day. Johann Strauss’ son was constantly in love and the world of women was at his feet. The ladies were enchanted by his melodies, looks and charm. His first wife was Henriette Treffz-Chalupetzky, whom he met in the house of the banker Moritz Ritter von Todesco. Henriette was the banker’s mistress, which is why she was also called “Baroness Todesco“. Before her marriage to Johann Strauss, she already had seven illegitimate children, with Johann she had no more. She was seven years older than Johann and, at her wedding on August 27, 1862, in St. Stephen’s Church in Vienna, was already 44 years old. The couple lived at Praterstraße 54, where the Danube Waltz was composed and where today there is a museum worth seeing . Jetty, as Henriette was known for short, was a motherly wife and perfect manager, taking everyday worries off her husband’s hands. The marriage ended after 16 years when Jetty succumbed to a stroke on April 8, 1878, leaving Johann a widower. Her great achievement was to have led her husband from waltz king to operetta composer. His mourning did not last too long, as Johann was married a second time just 50 days later. The lucky lady was 25 years younger and her name was Ernestine Henriette Angelica Dittrich, known as “Lili”. The two had known each other for some time without his first wife knowing about the “relationship”. Lili contacted Johann to get an engagement at the Theater an der Wien, but instead they got married. This took place on May 28, 1878 in the Karlskirche in Vienna. The couple moved into the newly built palace at Igelgasse 4, now Johann-Strauß-Gasse in the 4th district. The marriage was considered unhappy from the beginning, because there was little understanding and constant quarrels. This time the woman, that is Lili, should have a relationship on the side. After four years together, a line was drawn on December 9, 1882 and the marriage was divorced by mutual consent. The third wife – Adele Deutsch, widowed Strauß – already bore Johann’s surname, although she was not even married to him. Her deceased husband was the banker’s son Anton Strauss, a coincidental name. Johann wanted to marry Adele, but could no longer do so under Catholic law as he was already divorced. The problem was solved by Johann becoming a Saxon citizen and converting to the Protestant faith . On August 15, 1887, the two were married in the Ducal Court Church in Coburg . Johann was 62 and his bride half that age, i.e. 31 years young. Adele managed her husband excellently as executor of his estate until after his death in 1899 . She left behind the “Lex Johann Strauss”, an extension of the copyrights to his music for 32 years. Despite three marriages, Johann left no children. Time Travel Tip: In summer , it is particularly nice to stroll through the Stadtpark with all its statues. They are mainly composers (Strauss, Schubert, Bruckner, Lehár), painters (Makart, Amerling) or mayor Zelinka. Under his tenure, the city park was opened. If you want to see Beethoven , walk 10 minutes to Beethovenplatz across from the Konzerthaus/Vienna Ice Skating Club. For Mozart , the tour continues to the Burggarten on the Ringstrasse side. More info: Vienna City Park
Image source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stadtpark_Johann_Strau%C3%9F_Denkmal.jpg?uselang=de
