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© Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn
The Blue Danube Waltz
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October 2025  | ||||||
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Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su |
The Blue Danube Waltz - Johann Strauss
a musical picture book
Playing time: 40 min
without break
This musical fairy tale takes you to the picturesque landscape of the Danube, where the House of St. Florian is located. The inn, once the place of work of Johann Strauss Jr.'s grandfather and the childhood home of Johann Strauss Sr., forms the background of this story. This area became known worldwide through the melodies of Johann Strauss Jr., especially through his famous waltz "On the Beautiful Blue Danube".
In this idyllic setting, birds float through the air, snowmen dance a ballet interlude and an ice skater elegantly makes his rounds. The narrator leads Johann Strauss and his wife Jetty to this enchanted place and tells the mysterious "Legend of the Danube Maiden". The mystical Danube mermaid appears soon afterwards, warns a fisherman and his son of an impending flood disaster and thus prevents greater damage. The fisherman's boy, fascinated by the mermaid, follows her into the depths of the river. In the melodic swirls of the waltz "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" a ceremonial wedding finally takes place in the underground palace of the Prince of the Danube.
Musical numbers
“Motor Quadrille”, Opus 129
“Donauweibchen”, Opus 427, waltz from “Simplicius”, 1888.
“On the Beautiful Blue Danube”, Opus 314, waltz by Johann Strauss Jr., 1867.
Program and cast
Text and speaker: Prof. Gerhard Tötschinger
Music: Concilium musicum Wien / Naxos Chamber Ensemble of the KKHoch- und Deutschmeister
Director / Choreography: Maria Theresia Mühlbacher / Werner Hierzer
Set design: Mag. Odilia Baldszun
Costumes: Prof. Marie Luise Walek / Christine Hierzer-Riedler
Sculptors: Sepp Rems / Markus Maurer / Friedrich Wallner
Puppet play: Werner Hierzer / Christine Hierzer-Riedler / Saviz Foroughi / Isabell Francisci-Ragger / Lisa Pippan / Antonia Petz / Rudi Schwarzenberger
Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn
Tradition for 250 years
The Marionette Theatre Palace Schonbrunn performs world-famous operas, musicals and fairy tales according to an old tradition. The theatre is located at Palace Schönbrunn. All puppets and stage elements are handmade. The playing technique is officially an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The two founders and artistic directors Christine Hierzer-Riedler and Werner Hierzer look back on over 40 years of international experience in the art of puppet playing.
The marionettes, the costumes and the set designs are produced in cooperation with prominent directors, stage and costume designers in the in-house workshops.
Two well-trained teams make it possible to perform in the theatre in Schönbrunn and at the same time on international tours.
We have been to (selection):
Athens, Brussels, Florence, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Mexico City, Montreal, New York, Paris, Beijing, Rome, Seoul, Shanghai, Stratford and many more.
In order to play a puppet it needs a training of approx. 1-2 years. After that it takes years for perfection and really bring the puppet to life. The whole ensemble of the Marionettentheater Schloss Schönbrunn was trained by Christine Hierzer-Riedler and Werner Hierzer and plays over 300 performances every year.
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