Oscar Straus Free Sheet Music, Program Notes, Recordings and Biography

A Waltz Dream in the Shadow of a Name

When Oscar Straus’s operetta Der tapfere Soldat (The Chocolate Soldier) opened in Vienna in 1908, it was an instant smash hit. The work, a lighthearted musical satire of heroism and war, was based on the popular play Arms and the Man by the brilliant and famously cantankerous Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw. Shaw, however, was appalled. He detested the idea of his witty social commentary being turned into what he considered a frivolous musical. He only grudgingly allowed the adaptation on the condition that the program explicitly state it was an "unauthorized parody." The public didn't care. The show became an international sensation, and its soaring waltz, "My Hero," became one of the most popular songs in the world. This ironic success—a beloved hit born from a work its own literary father despised—is a fitting tale for Oscar Straus, a composer who navigated the worlds of serious music and popular entertainment with charm, wit, and immense talent.

A Viennese Musician (Not a Strauss)

Oscar Nathan Straus was born in Vienna, the musical capital of the world. Crucially, though he shared a name, a city, and a talent for waltzes, he was of no relation to the famous "Waltz King" dynasty of Johann Strauss I and II. This coincidence would follow him his entire life. Born into a Jewish banking family, Straus showed early musical talent but was pushed toward more serious ambitions than the light music of the Viennese stage.

He was sent to Berlin to study composition with one of the great German masters of the era, Max Bruch. Straus's early goal was to become a composer of serious operas and grand orchestral works. After his studies, he began his career following the traditional path, working as a theater conductor and composing for the stage.

From Berlin Cabaret to Viennese Success

A pivotal moment in Straus's early career came when he took a position as a composer and pianist for one of the first literary cabarets, the Überbrettl, in Berlin. This sophisticated, satirical form of entertainment was a hotbed of new artistic ideas. Here, Straus honed his skills at setting witty lyrics to memorable, accessible tunes. This experience proved to be the perfect training ground for his true calling: operetta.

He returned to his native Vienna and turned his attention to the city's most beloved genre. He quickly found success, becoming one of the leading figures, alongside his great contemporary Franz Lehár, of what became known as the "Silver Age" of Viennese operetta. His 1907 work, Ein Walzertraum (A Waltz Dream), was a major international hit, establishing him as a worthy successor to the Strausses he was so often confused with.

The Chocolate Soldier and International Fame

A year later, in 1908, he composed the work that would cement his legacy. Der tapfere Soldat (The Chocolate Soldier) was an even bigger success than A Waltz Dream. Despite Shaw's objections, the operetta took London and New York by storm. Its combination of clever satire and lush, romantic melodies was irresistible. The signature waltz from the show, "My Hero," became a standard, recorded by countless singers and beloved by audiences for generations. The success of The Chocolate Soldier made Straus an internationally famous and wealthy man. He went on to write dozens more operettas and popular songs over the next two decades.

Hollywood and a Forced Exile

With the advent of talking pictures, Straus, like many European composers, was lured to Hollywood. He composed several film scores in the 1930s, most notably for the Ernst Lubitsch film One Hour with You, starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald. He also contributed music to the 1936 film adaptation of Jerome Kern's musical masterpiece, Show Boat.

His successful life was thrown into turmoil by the rise of the Nazi party in Germany. After the Anschluss of 1938, when Germany annexed Austria, Straus, who was Jewish, was no longer safe in his beloved Vienna. He was forced into exile, first fleeing to Paris. After the fall of France, he made his way to the United States, settling in Hollywood and becoming an American citizen. He continued to work, but his heart remained in Vienna.

Return to Austria and Final Years

After World War II ended, Straus returned to Europe and eventually settled in the Austrian spa town of Bad Ischl, a town long associated with operetta and the longtime summer home of Franz Lehár. He was welcomed back as a national treasure and received numerous honors from the Austrian government. He composed his final operetta, Die Musik kommt (The Music Comes), in 1948.

Oscar Straus died in Bad Ischl in 1954 at the age of 83. While he never achieved his youthful ambition of becoming a "serious" classical composer, his contribution to the world of music is undeniable. Through the wit, charm, and unforgettable melodies of works like The Chocolate Soldier, he captured the final, glittering moments of Viennese romanticism and created music that has brought joy to audiences for over a century.

Section 4: References and Further Reading

• References and Further Reading

• Grun, Bernard. Prince of Vienna: The Life, the Times, and the Melodies of Oscar Straus. W. H. Allen, 1955.

• Traubner, Richard. Operetta: A Theatrical History. Routledge, 2003.

• Gänzl, Kurt. The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre. Schirmer Books, 2001.