A young talented man who is going to be one of the most famous musicians of his time does not look so self confident and promising in the beginning..."Will I pass?" young Schani (Stuart Wilson) asks his mother at the beginning of the episode. He is afraid, he is inexperienced, he has to look for musicians to his orchestra. Nevertheless, he may truly achieve 'the impossible' even if the whole world around seems not to care...why? Because the will is there.
Dramatised by Anthony Skene, the third episode of this wonderful series appears to be solely dedicated to young Schani Strauss (Stuart Wilson), who unlike his famous father (Eric Woofe), now a court music director and a star at the Sperl, will have to face some awful obstacles and yet will succeed being coined 'a new star' Strauss vs. Strauss, the Sperl vs. Dommayer; performance at the luxurious Sperl vs. Debut at a 'suburban hall' and yet, the result is surprising.
The episode dramatizes two views on music, the ones that not only appeared at the time of Schani's debut but has occurred in many generations resulting more in a wall than a bridge. We see a young composer with fresh, new look on music and some closest people around him who are willing to give him a push. That is, mainly, his mother (Anne Stallybrass). Here, she becomes even more positive a character than she was in the previous episodes. She takes Schani's side with all her heart and soul. Who bring the obstactles, however, are the 'circle of the acclaimed,' mainly Schani's father and his impresario Hirsch played by David de Keyser. They want to spoil the debut of the young musician by giving the concert at the Sperl on the very same date. But, two concerts on one day which will certainly make the audiences take sides is not enough for Hirsch. He visits a 'primadonna' Signora Lucari (Sonia Dresdel) and asks her to send a group of the Claque to Dommayer's in order to mock and spoil the debut performance. There are always and everywhere people of quite wretched characters who will dare all possible malicious deeds for money... Out of fear of success and jealousy, the elderly do anything to stop the boy and his mother from possible dawn of a career. The haunt of oblivion appears too strong.
Mind you the scene Johann Strauss visits his wife and wants Schani to play in his orchestra. The moment is also echoed in the later version of STRAUSS DYNASTY where the reaction of Anna (Lisa Harrow) is an outcry 'NEVER' but as short as it may seem there, this episode develops the encounter more effectively. The scene is genuine, indeed. Anna (Anne Stallybrass) presents herself as a woman with a certain upbringing, a woman who has never known what choosing is in life but her primary goal now is the happiness of Schani, his independent happiness. He is the head of the family now. She shows Johann a piece of paper with notes that Schani wrote at the age of six. It is good to pay attention to this 'relic' so much cherished by her because it will be referred to in a more touching scene later in the series... Top notch performances by Ms Stallybrass and Mr Woofe!
Schani's indefatigable struggle to success is nicely depicted at Dommayer's (Christopher Benjamin). When, among the beautiful sounds of his first waltzes, the Claque prove to be the people "skilled at making their presence felt in the performance" (as Hirsch states once), he does not give up and insists "I will play my music anyway!" Consequently, he prompts the whole mocking laughter of the situation turn into applauding acclaim; sheer parody into valuable entertainment. The scene is long, indeed, interrupted from time to time by some unnecessary lines and seemingly dated nowadays but it is one of the most memorable moments of the series. Truly, it was supposed to be catchy because this was actually the dawn of Schani's career, a real debut. Yes, it is the highlight of the episode when Signora Lucari, the one who mockingly calls Strauss music, 'cafe music' pays tribute to a 'new star.' A great supporting performance by Sonia Dresdel!
Johann Strauss the Elder does not feel like a triumph at the Sperl where, the so much expected emperor does not appear anyway, because the triumph is clearly elsewhere. But it is not the Johann Strauss who is totally overcome by jealousy and that is good because it makes him more likable. In one moment when the news of the Claque comes to him, he says "Schani is my son, let them not destroy him, he must end with some dignity!" There is another nice little scene when we see Johann and his Emilie in a cab and Hirsch comes to them with the news of success at Dommayer's. Johann's laughter makes us laugh too. What an impact on a viewer... It is, anyway, a success of his son whom he once forbade to play music.
It is a turning point when there are two Johann Strausses in Vienna but the city's heart is more and more with Johann Strauss the Younger, a 'new star' whose waltzes have won the hearts of so many people who have come to Vienna ever since.
Dramatised by Anthony Skene, the third episode of this wonderful series appears to be solely dedicated to young Schani Strauss (Stuart Wilson), who unlike his famous father (Eric Woofe), now a court music director and a star at the Sperl, will have to face some awful obstacles and yet will succeed being coined 'a new star' Strauss vs. Strauss, the Sperl vs. Dommayer; performance at the luxurious Sperl vs. Debut at a 'suburban hall' and yet, the result is surprising.
The episode dramatizes two views on music, the ones that not only appeared at the time of Schani's debut but has occurred in many generations resulting more in a wall than a bridge. We see a young composer with fresh, new look on music and some closest people around him who are willing to give him a push. That is, mainly, his mother (Anne Stallybrass). Here, she becomes even more positive a character than she was in the previous episodes. She takes Schani's side with all her heart and soul. Who bring the obstactles, however, are the 'circle of the acclaimed,' mainly Schani's father and his impresario Hirsch played by David de Keyser. They want to spoil the debut of the young musician by giving the concert at the Sperl on the very same date. But, two concerts on one day which will certainly make the audiences take sides is not enough for Hirsch. He visits a 'primadonna' Signora Lucari (Sonia Dresdel) and asks her to send a group of the Claque to Dommayer's in order to mock and spoil the debut performance. There are always and everywhere people of quite wretched characters who will dare all possible malicious deeds for money... Out of fear of success and jealousy, the elderly do anything to stop the boy and his mother from possible dawn of a career. The haunt of oblivion appears too strong.
Mind you the scene Johann Strauss visits his wife and wants Schani to play in his orchestra. The moment is also echoed in the later version of STRAUSS DYNASTY where the reaction of Anna (Lisa Harrow) is an outcry 'NEVER' but as short as it may seem there, this episode develops the encounter more effectively. The scene is genuine, indeed. Anna (Anne Stallybrass) presents herself as a woman with a certain upbringing, a woman who has never known what choosing is in life but her primary goal now is the happiness of Schani, his independent happiness. He is the head of the family now. She shows Johann a piece of paper with notes that Schani wrote at the age of six. It is good to pay attention to this 'relic' so much cherished by her because it will be referred to in a more touching scene later in the series... Top notch performances by Ms Stallybrass and Mr Woofe!
Schani's indefatigable struggle to success is nicely depicted at Dommayer's (Christopher Benjamin). When, among the beautiful sounds of his first waltzes, the Claque prove to be the people "skilled at making their presence felt in the performance" (as Hirsch states once), he does not give up and insists "I will play my music anyway!" Consequently, he prompts the whole mocking laughter of the situation turn into applauding acclaim; sheer parody into valuable entertainment. The scene is long, indeed, interrupted from time to time by some unnecessary lines and seemingly dated nowadays but it is one of the most memorable moments of the series. Truly, it was supposed to be catchy because this was actually the dawn of Schani's career, a real debut. Yes, it is the highlight of the episode when Signora Lucari, the one who mockingly calls Strauss music, 'cafe music' pays tribute to a 'new star.' A great supporting performance by Sonia Dresdel!
Johann Strauss the Elder does not feel like a triumph at the Sperl where, the so much expected emperor does not appear anyway, because the triumph is clearly elsewhere. But it is not the Johann Strauss who is totally overcome by jealousy and that is good because it makes him more likable. In one moment when the news of the Claque comes to him, he says "Schani is my son, let them not destroy him, he must end with some dignity!" There is another nice little scene when we see Johann and his Emilie in a cab and Hirsch comes to them with the news of success at Dommayer's. Johann's laughter makes us laugh too. What an impact on a viewer... It is, anyway, a success of his son whom he once forbade to play music.
It is a turning point when there are two Johann Strausses in Vienna but the city's heart is more and more with Johann Strauss the Younger, a 'new star' whose waltzes have won the hearts of so many people who have come to Vienna ever since.