Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra visits Xiamen

On December 31st, the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra performed a wonderful symphony concert at Xiamen Cangjiang Theater from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm to celebrate the rapidly arriving 2018.

Johaness Wildner, who has been with the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra since 2010, led the symphony in a performance that showcased the well-known music of the Strauss family.

The program consisted of Johann Strauss’s (Sohn) Overture to The Bat, Thunder and Lighting Polka, and Blue Danube Waltz.

Also performed were Franz von Suppe’s Overture to Jolly Robbers and Franz Lehar’s Gold and Silver Waltz op. 79.

The Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra was founded by a group of musicians in Vienna who belonged to the Austrian Radio Orchestra in 1966. The orchestra is composed of forty-two musicians and its aim is to cultivate the music of the legendary Strauss family, together with light classicalViennese music. It claims to be one of the most authentic ensembles for interpreting the music of the Strauss dynasty.

The Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra’s New Year’s Concert is the fifth world class concert presented by Xiamen Cangjiang Theater. The other four were Sarah Brightman's Gala Evening, Lang Lang’s Piano Solo Concert, the Beethoven Festival Orchestra’s New Year’s Concert conducted by Krzystof Pendereck, and China’s Three Tenors’ Concert.

The mission of the Xiamen Cangjiang Theater is to carry forward excellent traditional Chinese culture and to enhance the cultural and artistic environment of the city of Xiamen.

The day before the concert, the Xiamen Cangjiang Theater held a press conference at the China City Shopping Mall where the conductor Johann Wildner and the first violin Wolfgang Redik were issued Honorary Artist Certificates by Li Yuan, deputy general manager of the theater.

Mr. Wildner said Xiamen is a very beautiful city and the people are very friendly. This is his first time to Xiamen, but he loved the city very much.

Before visiting Xiamen, the Austrian musician had been already visited China eight times. He said he loved China’s traditional architecture and likened it to the music of the Strauss dynasty, both of which, he said, are classic.