Großfürstin Alexandra-Walzer, Op. 181 (1856) – Johann Strauss II – Robert Stolz

That Johann Strauss should have found himself in Russia in 1856 was the result of an earlier approach made to him in Bad Gastein by representatives of the Tsarskoye-Selo Railway Company of St. Petersburg. In an attempt to increase passenger traffic on the rail route from St. Petersburg to the terminus at Pavlovsk, the company had constructed the Vauxhall Pavilion, an attractive music and entertainment centre in the grounds of Pavlovsk Park. The years since its opening in 1838 had seen the engagement of many international performers, and the delegation was now anxious to secure the services of Vienna’s leading light music composer. So successful was Johann’s initial “Russian summer” that he was to appear there for ten consecutive seasons, thereby laying the foundation of his considerable personal wealth.

Strauss made his Pavlovsk début on 18 May 1856 at the head of an orchestra comprising some 38 musicians, and gave daily concerts there until 13 October. While the choice of music was left to his discretion, his contract required him to include music by the classical masters and Contemporary Composers alongside his own works. It was, however, this latter category which drew the greatest applause, and among the eight new works he wrote for Pavlovsk that year was the waltz Grossfürstin Alexandra, dedicated to Alexandra Jossiphovna, née Alexandra Friederike Henriette of Prussia (1830–1911), fifth daughter of Joseph, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and wife of the Grand Duke Constantin Nikolaievich. Johann conducted the première of the waltz at his first benefit concert held on 26 June and thereafter it regularly featured on programmes, including those given before the Russian royal family. On the manuscript score, in Strauss’s hand are the words: “Born in Russia, and styled in keeping with the cold climate”, while to his Viennese publisher, Carl Haslinger, he wrote from Pavlovsk on 14 September 1856: “Enclosed find the Alexandra Walzer, kept in the Russian taste and thus indigestible. [Section] No. 5 of this waltz consists of two Russian songs”.

Robert Stolz & Berliner Symphoniker

Painting: Adolf Jossifowitsch Charlemagne - Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Tsarskoe Selo Railroad at the Pavlovsk Railway Station Concert Hall (1862)