The Radetzky March
The world-famous composition by Johann Strauss I: A rhythm you just can’t resist

Field Marshal Josef Wenzel Radetzky von Radetz was already 81 years old when he defeated the Sardinian army at the Battle of Custoza on 25 July 1848. His victory was more than just a reinforcement of Austrian power in Northern Italy; it bolstered the conservative forces in Vienna, who had been grappling with uprisings and opposing liberal reforms since the March Revolution of 1848.

Radetzky’s triumph was celebrated in grand style. On 31 August 1848, a festival was held at Vienna’s Wasserglacis, where Johann Strauss I was commissioned to contribute a composition. Strauss firmly aligned himself with the loyalists of the empire—an interesting contrast to his son, Johann Strauss II, who openly sympathised with the revolutionaries.

Johann Strauss I, born on 14 March 1804 in Vienna, composed the Radetzky March in 1848. After performing in Joseph Lanner's orchestra, Strauss soon founded his own ensemble, shaping what would become the world-famous Viennese waltz.

The Radetzky March was commissioned to honour Field Marshal Josef Wenzel Radetzky von Radetz, who, at an advanced age, achieved a decisive victory over the Sardinian army in the Battle of Custoza.

The Radetzky March was first performed at the now world-famous New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic on 1 January 1946. Since then, it has become an essential encore at the annual concert. However, the original arrangement has been handwritten and adapted several times, so it is no longer performed as initially composed. In 2019, the board of the Vienna Philharmonic decided to create an official new edition, which is now played at the concert.