Feuilleton, Walzer, Op. 293 (1865) - Johann Strauss II

The great waltz "Feuilleton" was Johann's contribution to the third annual ball of the Vienna Authors' and Journalists' Association, 'Concordia', which took place in the Sofienbad-Saal on 24 January 1865. The work is dedicated to the organisation. Down the years numerous composers were to dedicate their music to the influential 'Concordia', and they regularly plundered the rich and varied journalistic vocabulary for suitable titles for their compositions. It was the Parisian newspaper La Presse which first carried a separate sheet, headed Feuilleton, featuring a topical cultural content. The idea was taken up by the editor of Vienna's Die Presse, and soon feuilletons became customary in several other Viennese newspapers.

Melodies from Strauss's Feuilleton-Walzer may be familiar to some listeners through their appearance in the 'Impromptu Variation No. 1' in Antal Dorati's ballet-pastiche Graduation Ball (1940).

Pavel Kogan & MSSO
Painting: Karl Wenzel Zajicek - Wien Panorama - k. k. Hofburg