Johann Strauss (son) composed one of the world’s most famous pieces of music in this building: On the beautiful blue Danube, better known as the Danube waltz. Strauss moved into this first-floor apartment on the fashionable Praterstraße in the 1860s — a visible sign of his tremendous success and legendary career.
The scion of a waltzing dynasty, Strauss began his career with dance and marching music. Conducting his own orchestra, he soon emerged as an international star, selling out tours across Europe and America.
Later, he dedicated himself to operetta, writing enduring pieces such as Die fledermaus and becoming a prominent figure in this new genre.
The exhibition in Strauss’s former living quarters recalls the composer's life and work. In addition to documents, objects, and portraits of the Waltz king, it also features a Bösendorfer piano and an Amati violin from his personal collection.