The most famous member of Vienna’s dynasty of waltz composers, Johann Strauss II (1825-99) was master not only of the waltz, but an array of ballroom favourites—you may recognise the exhilarating polkas “Unter Donner und Blitz” or “Tritsch-Tratsch”. And there’s his ever-fresh masterpiece of operetta, Die Fledermaus (The Bat). Even such composers as Brahms and Wagner admired and envied Strauss’ haunting melodies with their glowing and crisply articulated orchestrations. Whether the luscious waltz The Beautiful Blue Danube, the captivating Roses from the South, or the cheeky aria “Mein Herr, Marquis” (the Laughing Song), Strauss continues to enchant with his life-enhancing music.