"Greetings to Munich". In August of 1860 the most important railway-line going out of Vienna went into operation. It went from Vienna via Linz and Salzburg to Munich and bore the name "Kaiserin Elisabeth-Westbahn" in honor of the empress of Bavaria. On the occasion of the inauguration of the railway between the two cities, a great celebration was organized on 15 August 1860 in the imperial Augarten, in which the first visitors to arrive in Vienna from Munich took part. Along with the Strauss orchestra under Josef's baton, three military bands performed, as did the Vienna men's choral society. At this event, Josef Strauss performed for the first time this Polka, composed for this occasion. It is doubtful that the charming, genial work was also noticed and appreciated on this day. The celebration unfolded in such unruly manner that the visitors, who appeared en Masse, laid waste the carefully-tended Augarten to such an extent that for a long time thereafter the Lord High Steward would not allow any festivities in there. The piano score which depicted the ultramodern locomotive adrift against the Skyline of Munich, was ready right in time for the celebration. After it was published, the Polka suffered the typical fate of a composition written specifically for an event: it was forgotten as quick as the occasion.

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Painting: The Stachus in Munich
Artist: Charles Vetter

Slovak State Philarmonic Orchestra, Kosice
Christian Pollack