Johann Strauß’ „Reitermarsch“ (Cavalry March) op. 428 is taken from his dramatic work “Simplicius”, which Strauß wrote in 1887 in collaboration with the young librettist Viktor Léon as a modern play with music. Yet, the management of the theater announced “Simplicius” as an operetta. The work premiered on December 17, 1887 at the “Theater an der Wien”, conducted by 62-year-old Johann Strauß and unhappily interrupted by a fire alarm. The “Reiterlied”, which Strauß later used as first motive in the “Reitermarsch”, received so much spontaneous applause at the premiere that it was immediately encored. In the trio of the march Strauß makes use of the song motive “D’rum sag’ ich dir Ade, Universität” and a march motive taken from the overture. Still in December 1887, at a concert in the public gardens, Karl Komzak presented a “Simplicius-March”, which likely was identical to the “Reitermarsch”. Eduard Strauß also performed this march in January of the following year at the Musikverein Wien. The “Reitermarsch” obviously had huge public appeal right from the start and remained very popular. It is performed at the Vienna New Year’s Concert still today.
Johann Strauß’ „Reitermarsch“ (Cavalry March) op. 428 is taken from his dramatic work “Simplicius”, which Strauß wrote in 1887 in collaboration with the young librettist Viktor Léon as a modern play with music. Yet, the management of the theater announced “Simplicius” as an operetta. The work premiered on December 17, 1887 at the “Theater an der Wien”, conducted by 62-year-old Johann Strauß and unhappily interrupted by a fire alarm. The “Reiterlied”, which Strauß later used as first motive in the “Reitermarsch”, received so much spontaneous applause at the premiere that it was immediately encored. In the trio of the march Strauß makes use of the song motive...