About The Society

Our story

We were founded in 1964 by a group of enthusiasts who were keen to rediscover the rich musical treasures of the Strauss family and their Viennese contemporaries. Since then the Society has grown to become a principal source of authority in promoting the music, including operetta and Viennese Balls, and has well-established professional connections.  Thomas Strauss, the great-great-great-grandson of Johann Strauss the Elder, is the Society's Honorary Patron, having taken over from his father Dr. Eduard Strauss.  In 2014 we celebrated our 50th Anniversary year in London, along with members of the Strauss family.

Society Newsletter and Magazine (free online to members)

Please refer to the 'Publications' tab on the left.

On Line

Members are automatically enrolled to receive e-mail notifications, and have access to the members only part of our website where far more information can be accessed and downloaded. There are links to 1000s of online video clips and unique audio recordings. An extensive CD catalogue for our members can be downloaded, as well as a listing of the CD and book archive, and the book on the history of the Society.

Piano and Orchestral Scores and Parts

We have one of the largest archives of Viennese Music outside Austria, and it is always being added to. Please see the orchestral parts list under the scores tab.  We also have piano scores of practically every Strauss work, plus 1000s of other works by their contemporaries. This includes piano/vocal scores of many operettas. Archive material can be made available to orchestras and individuals for hire or purchase. Please use our feedback form to enquire.

Research

The Society regularly provides authoritative notes for concert programmes and recordings. Much new research has been published, including biographies on the Strauss family, Carl Michael Ziehrer, Josef Gung'l, Emil Waldteufel, and  the English translation of the biography on Josef Strauss. Additionally, the result of much research has appeared in our publications – Vienna Music, and previously Tritsch-Tratsch.

Recorded Music on CD

The Society has sponsored several highly acclaimed commercial recordings:
- Vienna Première series (Chandos)
- Johann Strauss and Family in London (Chandos)
- Johann Strauss operetta orchestral potpourris (Naxos)
- Iosef Ivanovici (Electrecord)
- Spirit of Vienna series (private)
- Carl Michael Ziehrer series (Preiser)
- Eduard Strauss series (Naxos)
- Contemporaries of the Strauss Family series (Naxos)
- Treasures of Operetta (Chandos)
- Carl Millöcker: Der Feldprediger (private)
- Franz von Suppe: Die Afrikareise (private)
- Johann Strauss: Jabuka (Naxos)
- Johann Strauss: Göttin der Vernunft (Naxos)
- Johann Strauss: Blindekuh (Naxos)
- Johann Strauss: Waldmeister (Naxos)

Further recordings have been made:
- Eduard Strauss series (Naxos)
- Julius Fucik (Naxos)

Planned recordings include several CDs:
- Johann Strauss: Indigo
- Carl Michael Ziehrer operetta extracts
- Carl Michael Ziehrer: Fesche Geister

The Society has also been closely involved in the production of several other CDs, including :
- Johann Strauss II Complete Edition (Naxos)
- Carl Michael Ziehrer Dances, Marches, Overtures (Naxos)

We also have a private non-commercial recording series of over 40 CDs available to our members for their personal use.

Social Activities

There are various musical and social events, including a social after the Annual General Meeting in March or early April, and another in Matlock every November.  We regularly advertise concerts, operettas, festivals and symposiums held in the UK and worldwide, and by our sister Societies (see links).

Special offers

Our online members catalogue contains information on new releases and many of the CDs can be obtained at discounted prices.

Membership

Our Society has significant American and Canadian membership and we also advertise events in those countries. Working together, we are able to achieve more.  We have links to most European countries, Australia and New Zealand, the Far East, and Russia. International meetings have taken place in Austria, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Slovakia, Spain, The Czech Republic and various Romanian cities.