Vienna Sent ‘Blue Danube' Into Space To Mark Historic Strauss Birthday
"The Blue Danube" was finally transmitted into space.
You probably know 'The Blue Danube Waltz' even if you don't know the piece of classical music by name. It was composed by Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, and it's simply become a daily part of life for many of us who often hear the song in public places and in TV shows, commercials, and movies.
The waltz has even been considered an unofficial space anthem since it was used in memorable, significant scenes in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. However, it was inexplicably left behind when the Voyager Golden Records were sent into space in 1977.
A group of dedicated Austrians decided to correct this mistake and finally send the beloved 'Blue Danube' into space. In celebration of the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II, the European Space Agency (ESA) partnered with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Tourist Board to hold a concert event called 'Waltz Into Space'. It was held at the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts) in Vienna, Austria, on the evening of May 31, 2025. It was hosted by powerful actor Bless Amada.
The Wiener Symphoniker performs "The Blue Danube".
Michael Ludwig, the mayor of Vienna, said in a statement, 'Once again, the Austrian capital has presented itself as an innovative world capital of music – a city that not only preserves its heritage but also generates impetus for the future with visionary ideas.'
Bless Amada hosted a night that was a touching celebration.
Norbert Kettner, the CEO of the Vienna Tourist Board, shared Ludwig's enthusiasm. He explained, 'The successful realization of the 'Waltz into Space' mission is a testament to Vienna's unique ability to blend tradition with innovation. We are proud to have collaborated with the European Space Agency, whose willingness to support this exceptional project is an honor and far from a given. Our sincere gratitude goes to all partners and supporters who made this cosmic celebration of Vienna's cultural heritage possible.'
It took a lot of cooperation and team work to realize this dream.
The highlight of the 'Waltz Into Space' concert was a performance of 'The Blue Danube Waltz' by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (Wiener Symphoniker) with Petr Popelka conducting. This space anthem was transmitted towards Voyager 1 by ESA's Deep Space Antenna, which is in Cebreros, Spain. It was sent out into the universe as an electromagnetic wave at the speed of light.
The orchestra put their all into the spectacular performance.
That signal will catch up with NASA's Voyager 1 space probe approximately 23 hours after the performance was live streamed. That is near the time when the concert will be presented as a free public screening in New York's Bryant Park. The festivities at Bryant Park start around 1 p.m. EST on Sunday, June 1. The celebration there will include a live DJ, waltz lessons, and drinks. Picnic blankets will be handed to guests as long as they have them available, and those who come to the screening can enter to win a trip to Vienna.
There are many reasons one would want to win that trip. In addition to being the capital of Austria, Vienna has long been known as a city of music. It was home to composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Strauss. You can see a classical music concert and hundreds of other musical performances every day in Vienna.
Beautiful Karlskirche Church. Vienna
Pop singers like Billy Joel have sung its praises, with Joel penning 'Vienna' about inspiration he found in the city. It was mentioned in a song by The Beatles called 'The Ballad of John and Yoko'. Ultravox also famously released their dramatic song 'Vienna'.
Beyond music, Vienna also has world-class museums. It has a terrific vegan dining scene with fine dining restaurants like JOLA. You could spend days exploring its gorgeous gardens and parks, and the guided tours of its historical palaces and buildings are especially popular. There always seem to be something special going on in Austria's capital city.
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