“What do you think of when you hear the Danube waltz?” is the first interview question in the recently released mini-documentary “Space Anthem”. Brian W. Cook, assistant director to Stanley Kubrick, answers: “Space.” In the six minutes that follow, leading experts explain how Johann Strauss’ waltz became a space anthem thanks to Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 science fiction film “2001: A Space Odyssey” – and why it still plays an important role in real space travel today. 

Space anthem “Blue Danube Waltz”

It is not only fictional characters like Homer Simpson who have been floating through space at three-quarter time since Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”. Johann Strauss’ waltz is also an integral part of wake-up calls and docking maneuvers in real space travel. Even during the NASA mission in 2001, the Danube Waltz was played when the space shuttle “Discovery” docked at the International Space Station (ISS) – it is internationally regarded as the anthem of space.

Among the speakers in the documentary are Marin Alsop (chief conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra), Kara Talve (chief composer for “The Simpsons”), Carmen Possnig (future European Space Agency astronaut), Matthias Röder (director of the Eliette and Herbert von Karajan Institute), Eduard Strauss (great-grandnephew of Johann Strauss II), Walter Werzowa (composer and professor of film music), Markus Mooslechner (European Space Agency consultant) and Brian W. Cook.

Director of Tourism Norbert Kettner:
“Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ depicts gigantic spaceships floating through space in three-four time to the Viennese waltz. This iconic scene made movie history and turned the Danube Waltz into a visual symbol of weightlessness. With ‘Space Anthem’, we are presenting the first major Vienna Tourist Board production for the 2025 anniversary year ‘King of Waltz. Queen of Music’, in which we give Johann Strauss II a contemporary twist: no kitsch, but plenty of goosebumps. Strauss provided nothing less than the soundtrack of space - the fact that the most famous of all waltzes was not immortalized on the Voyager Golden Record in 1977 is an omission that we wanted to address during the upcoming anniversary.”

Voyager Golden Record: “To the makers of music – all worlds, all times”

The Voyager Golden Record was sent into space in 1977 – a kind of time capsule designed to communicate a history of our world to extraterrestrial beings. The record contains sounds and images that are intended to represent the diversity of life and cultures on earth. In addition to sounds of nature and greetings in 55 languages, there is also music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven on the gold-plated 12-inch copper disk.

Strauss and Vienna 2025: ready for take-off

The Vienna Tourist Board is launching its 2025 theme year “King of Waltz. Queen of Music” with its short film, “Space Anthem.” Next year we will be celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of “Waltz King” Johann Strauss II, alongside his queen Vienna, the world capital of music. It was only here that geniuses such as Strauss, Mozart and Beethoven were able to unleash their full creativity. Strauss’ waltzes are an integral part of the Viennese ball season, tempting audiences to dance and entertaining 50 million TV viewers every year at the traditional New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Links

• Mini documentary “Space Anthem”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-7HpEZa5yo 

• Campaign site “Space Anthem”: spaceanthem.wien.info

• Archive image of the Voyager Golden Record: https://images.nasa.gov/details/PIA21741

• Archive image “Engineers attach the Golden Record to the Voyager space probe”: https://images.nasa.gov/details/PIA21740

• All the information about the 2025 anniversary year “King of Waltz. Queen of the Music.”: strauss.wien.info

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Contact

Helena Steinhart
Media Relations
+43 1 211 14-364
helena.steinhart@vienna.info