Johann Strauss II
Niko-Polka (Quick polka)
op. 228 (1859)
Following a period of domestic unrest Prince Alexander Baryatinski, with the help of Cossack troops, put an end to the autonomy of the Caucasus Principality of Mingrelia, a Russian protectorate. As a result its regent, Ekaterina Dadiani, followed the invitation of Tsar Alexander II and went into exile in St Petersburg with her son Nicolau, who was still a minor.
In the course of his guest appearances in Pavlovsk Johann Strauss II, who was not interested in politics, dedicated compositions of his to both the winners and the losers in this conflict. In the case of Nicolau Dadiaini this was the lively
Niko Polka
, op. 228, one of the rare Strauss polkas in a minor key. It was first performed at his second benefit concert of the 1859 season. The concert had originally been planned for 2 [14 NS] July, but had to be postponed for nine days because of bad weather. Preparing for and performing this concert apparently took it out of Strauss, who was already in poor health, so much that on the following day he was incapable of conducting; the doctor who was called in forecast that he had a life expectancy of two years at most.
However, the composer, who at the time was involved in a love affair with Olga Smirnitskaya, the daughter of a Russian civil servant, made a quick recovery. When he returned to Vienna he seems not to have expected much of the
Niko Polka
, probably because of its farhter exotic nature.
Although a piano arrangement was published in Vienna on 18 December 1859 — the Russian edition having probably appeared in the course of the summer, it took an unusually long time for the polka to be given its first public performance in Vienna; in fact this did not take place not until the next year’s Carnival season, when it is documented that the work was performed at a ball held at the Sperl establishment as a benefit event for Johann and Josef Strauss on 20 January 1860.
Synopsis: Dr. Thomas Aigner
Translation: Dr. Leigh H. Bailey
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