Composer

:

Johann Strauss II

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Quadrille

Compose Date

:

1896

Publication Date

:

1896

Average_duration

:

6:12

Johann Strauss II composed "Waldmeister, Op. 468" in 1895, and it premiered on December 4th of the same year at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. The operetta is divided into three acts and features a libretto by Gustav Davis. The first act of "Waldmeister" introduces the audience to the main characters, including the titular character, Waldmeister, a forest ranger, and his love interest, Arsena, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. The act also features a subplot involving a group of students who are trying to win the affections of a group of young women. The second act of the operetta takes place at a masquerade ball, where the characters' identities are disguised. This act features several musical numbers, including a waltz and a polka. The third and final act of "Waldmeister" resolves the various plotlines and features a grand finale that includes a chorus of forest spirits. One of the characteristics of "Waldmeister" is its use of traditional Viennese musical forms, such as the waltz and the polka. The operetta also features lush orchestration and catchy melodies, which were hallmarks of Strauss's style. Overall, "Waldmeister, Op. 468" is a charming and lighthearted operetta that showcases Strauss's talent for creating memorable melodies and orchestrations.

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