Johann Strauss II (1825-1899)
Violinist, conductor, and composer, born in Vienna, Austria, the eldest son of Johann Strauss (the Elder). He studied law, but turned to music, touring with his own orchestra. He wrote over 400 waltzes, notably An der schönen blauen Donau (1867, trans The Blue Danube) and Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald (1868, Tales from the Vienna Woods), as well as polkas, marches, several operettas, including Die Fledermaus (1874, The Bat), and a favourite concert piece, Perpetuum Mobile.
