It was on 5 January that Kaiser Franz Joseph I laid the final stone of the stately Musikverein building in Vienna, known today to millions as the venue of the annual New Year's Day Concert. For the opening ball, held on 15 January 1870 in the magnificent Goldene Saal (Golden Hall) of the Musikverein, all three Strauss brothers were in attendance, and each presented a specially composed dedication work. Johann conducted his walz Freut euch des Lebens, and Eduard the polka-mazurka Eisblume, whilst Josef dedicated to "the Association of the Friends of Music" his charming french-polka Künstler-Gruß. Text: Peter Kemp, 1978 The Johann Strauss Society of Great Britain
Josef Strauss Artists's Greeting / Polka française op. 274 (1870) © WienBibliothek im Rathaus (Mc-6664-2020)
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