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Fans of the "Waltz King" might like to head for the Johann-Strauss-Museum (Tues-Sun 9am-12.15pm & 1-4.30pm; oS25/?1.82), on the first floor of Praterstrasse 54 (U-Bahn Nestroyplatz), where the composer lived from 1863 until the death of his first wife, the singer Jetty Treffz, in 1878. In contrast to most of the city's musical museums, some attempt has been made here to recreate a period interior: one room, decorated with ceiling panels of cherubs, contains his grand piano, house organ and standing desk at which he used to compose. There's also a fascinating collection of ephemera from the balls of the day, with various gimmicky dance cards - one laid out in the form of a staircase - and quirky ball pendants, which were kept as a sort of memento of the evening. Strauss is of course best known for having written the city's signature tune, An der schonen blauen Donau (known to the English-speaking world as The Blue Danube ). Originally scored for male chorus, not orchestra, complete with ludicrous lyrics, it wasn't at all well received after its inept first performance. Only when Strauss took it to Paris, and performed it with an orchestra, did it become a stratospheric success.
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