The story of the Waltz Kings: today Donald Macleod examines the turbulent relationship of Strauss father and son, their musical rivalry, and their involvement in the revolutions of 1848.

The Strauss family was never a model of happy cohesion: Johann the Elder forbade the son from following him into the profession, but the encouragement of his neglected mother led Johann the Younger to ignore his father's disapproval and forge his own path as composer and performer. Bitterness ensued, and acquired a political edge during the 1848 revolutions. Johann Vater was very much an establishment figure, deeply embedded with the unfashionable ancien regime, and he wrote unashamedly bombastic music supporting the conservative cause. His son however took sides with the trendy young rebels, and family peace only came with Johann senior's death.

J Strauss II: Tu qui regis totum orbem, Graduale
Michael Dittrich, conductor
Slovak Philharmonic Chorus
Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra

J Strauss II: Gunstwerber, Walzer, Op 4
Alfred Walter
CSSR State Philharmonic Orchestra

J Strauss I: Aether-Träume, Walzer, Op 225
Christian Pollack, conductor
Slovak Sinfonietta

J Strauss II: Revolutions-Marsch, Op 54
Alfred Walter
CSSR State Philharmonic Orchestra

J Strauss I: Radetsky Marsch, Op 228 (Original Version)
Christian Pollack, conductor
Slovak Sinfonietta

J Strauss I: Almacks Quadrille, Op 243
John Georgiadis, director
London Symphony Orchestra

J Strauss II: Annen-Polka, Op 117
Willi Boskovsky, conductor
Wiener Philharmoniker

J Strauss II: Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka, Op 214
Willi Boskovsky, conductor
Wiener Philharmoniker

J Strauss II: Accelerationen, Walzer, Op 234
Willi Boskovsky, conductor
Wiener Philharmoniker

Producer: Dominic Jewel. Show less