Concurrenzen, Walzer, Op. 267 (1862) - Johann Strauss II

The ball of the Industrial Societies' Association, held in the Sofienbad-Saal on 29 January 1862, opened the series of imposing grand Corporation balls that took place during that year's Vienna Carnival. Johann Strauss and his orchestra were engaged to provide the dance music at this festivity, for which the composer was also expected to write the obligatory dedication piece. He obliged with the irresistible waltz Concurrenzen, for which the Association's ball-organising committee presented him with 25 golden ducats. Cognizant of the background to Johann's choice of title, the Wiener Zeitung observed: "When Strauss let his waltz 'Concurrenzen' ring out... here the competitive squabble between the railway companies was forgotten, and there reigned only one competition, the competition of the winged feet." MSSO & P. Kogan Painting: Blick auf das Palais Schwarzenberg