Radetzky-Marsch

General Radetzky was commanding general in Milan when the Italian subjects of the Lombardic Kingdom revolted against Austria in the spring of 1848. This upheaval set in motion the course of events that eventually made Radetzky the most popular army commander of the Habsburg dynasty in the 19th century. Due to his activities the danger of losing the Italian provinces was repelled, and the vitality of Austria had been demonstrated. On August 31, Vienna staged a grandiose victory celebration. At nine o’clock an equestrian statue of Radetzky was unveiled. Johann Strauss struck up the so-called people’s anthem and as the climax of the evening, he eventually performed his “Radetzky March” for the first time, which he had specially composed for this occasion. Without any doubt this march is a “gift to a century”, the “motifs of which go the blood like pepper”, as writer Heinrich Eduard Jacob put it. In the realm of symphonic music the “Radetzky March” is one of the few marches that has conquered concert halls all over world.

Also available in March Size (see number MVSR 2391M)