"Sylph". On 8th November 1856, after a long and very successful summer season for Josef Strauss, the Fremden-Blatt invited the public to two concerts. The firstt was an event at Sperl's featuring a very interesting programme, an the second, scheduled for the next day, was a soirée in the Volksgarten. Josef Strauss played a novelty of his own, the french polka Sylphide. A report in the Theaterzeitung on 14th November 1856 stated that "four encores were requested of the newest french polka Sylphide, and exceptionally charming polka and piquantly instrumented composition." Josef Strauss had thus capped a successful season in like fasion. He had fully justified the trust that his brother had placed in him. In greek mythology, sylphs are spirits of the air or elements. In Vienna, though, Josef Strauss's polka most likely brought "Sylphide, das Seefräulein" (Sylph, the Sea Maiden) to mind. Dating back to the Biedermeier period, the character in the musical, starring the lovely actress Therese Krones, has teased and frightened men of goodwill. This Viennese sylph lent her enduring charms to Josef Strauss's composition as well.
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Painting: Fanny Elssler as La Sylphide
Artist: Karl Joseph Begas
Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra, Kosice
Mika Eichenholz
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