The composer Johann Strauss the younger is, and always will be part of the QAH’s DNA. Why? Because some encounters are unforgettable, they shape one’s destiny. Some composers just permeate your musical world and cling to you like a second skin.
Johann Strauss the younger has been part of us for 25 years, with his melodies, his light-heartedness, his festive spirit, but also his demanding nature, his unrelenting rhythm and the artistic and even physical commitment necessary to perform his work.
He influenced his era and left a trace that subsequent musicians embraced in order to pay tribute to him. Others showed disdain or did not embrace his influence, although they admired Strauss immensely. He bridged the gap between popular and classical music, he was a precursor of sampling.
The QAH paid tribute to Strauss in 2023 and 2024 with Strauss &Co, and opened the door to a vast array of works to make their own. Strauss &Co was intended to be a unique project, but ultimately led to a new opus, equally rich and exciting: “La Valse des Anches Hantées” created by Vincent Peirani. This Jazz-Musette Waltz aimed to create a link between Strauss, popular and contemporary culture and a modern version of the waltz.