La Chevaleresque, Polka Mazurka, Op. 42 - Josef Strauss

"The Chivalrous Woman". Among the series of compositions written by Josef Strauss for the summer of 1857, the elegant but resolute polka-mazurka La Chevaleresque stands out. The high point of this densely grouped series was his wedding waltz, Perlen der Liebe (Pearls of Love), op. 39: 'Pepi' was very proud and happy to marry Caroline Pruckmayer on 8 June 1857 in St. John's parish church in Leopoldstadt (today Vienna's second district). The La Chevaleresque polka-mazurka was composed at the time of the 1857 Hernals feast of the local patron saint, celebrated at Unger's Casino on 31 August, and it was presented to the public during one of the numerous summer concerts. The work also turned up on the dance programme of the Hernals feast of the local patron saint, although it was still 'new' at the end of August. As important as knowing the date of the work's world premiere is appreciating its place in the series of summer compositions: the polka-mazurka draws the picture of a chivalrous, steadfast lady, who stands out significantly against La Simplicite and calls to mind the ideal wife. In Josef’s case, the ideal wife was his Caroline, to whom Josef dedicated the Perlen der Liebe waltz. This dark polka-mazurka written in a minor-key is therefore especially precious to the music lover.

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Painting: Portrait of an Unknown Woman
Artist: Ivan Kramskoy
Date: 1883

Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Michael Dittrich