Celebrating 200 Years of the “King of Waltz”: Johann Strauss Quartet in Washington DC
Ambassador Petra Schneebaur at the Kennedy Center with the Johann Straus Quartet
Photo: Austrian Cultural Forum Washington
During the last weekend of October, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss Son with two exceptional concerts featuring the Johann Strauss Quartet, a renowned ensemble based in Vienna.
The weekend’s festivities began on Friday evening at the Embassy of Austria, where guests were welcomed to an intimate concert filled with the timeless charm and elegance of Vienna’s musical tradition. The celebration continued the following day on October 25 — Johann Strauss’s 200th birthday — with a public performance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, presented by ACF Washington.
The quartet delighted audiences with a joyful program of Vienna’s finest waltzes, polkas, and classical favorites, embodying the spirit of Strauss and the enduring beauty of his music. A memorable highlight came when two audience members joined the musicians on stage, transforming the concert into a shared, lighthearted celebration of Vienna’s vibrant musical heritage.
These performances not only honored the legacy of the “King of Waltz” but also celebrated music’s power to bring people together — across generations, cultures, and continents.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special two-day celebration of Strauss, Vienna, and the universal language of music.
Photos: Austrian Cultural Forum Washington