Vienna is preparing for a celestial celebration, marking both Johann Strauss II’s 200th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the European Space Agency (ESA) with an out-of-this-world tribute—beaming The Blue Danube waltz into deep space.
For decades, The Blue Danube has been the unofficial “Anthem of Space,” famously featured in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yet, despite its cultural significance, the waltz was curiously absent from the Voyager Golden Records, NASA’s 1977 time capsule of humanity’s greatest artistic achievements sent to potential extraterrestrial life.
On May 31, 2025, Vienna is setting the record straight. In a grand collaboration between the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (Wiener Symphoniker) and ESA, the city will broadcast The Blue Danube across the cosmos in a mission aptly named Waltz into Space. This ambitious project, spearheaded by the Vienna Tourist Board and creative agency Jung von Matt DONAU, aims to cement Vienna’s legacy as the city of music while sending a timeless message to the universe.
How Waltz into Space Works
A special live performance of The Blue Danube by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra will take place at Vienna’s MAK Museum on May 31. The recording will then be digitized and transmitted via ESA’s deep space communication facility in Cebreros, Spain. Traveling at the speed of light—299,792 km/s—the signal will surpass the Voyager 1 spacecraft in approximately 23 hours and 3 minutes, venturing farther than any human-made sound before it.
Vienna’s Tradition of Bold Cultural Campaigns
Norbert Kettner, Director of the Vienna Tourist Board, highlighted the project’s significance: “As part of our mission with the European Space Agency, we are broadcasting The Blue Danube in the direction of the spacecraft already moving through interstellar space. Waltz into Space extends beyond our solar system while also inspiring people on Earth to experience Vienna’s vibrant cultural scene.”
Stefan Bauernberger, Creative Director of Jung von Matt DONAU, emphasized the campaign’s pioneering nature: “This project challenges the very limits of creativity—what does it mean to perform when the audience might not even be human?”
Waltz into Space is the latest in a series of groundbreaking collaborations between the Vienna Tourist Board and Jung von Matt DONAU. Previous campaigns have included showcasing Vienna’s risqué artworks on OnlyFans, launching a “microdose Vienna” pill, and introducing an augmented reality avatar of Sigmund Freud to engage visitors with the city’s intellectual legacy.
With this latest interstellar endeavor, Vienna continues to push creative boundaries—ensuring that one of humanity’s most cherished melodies will waltz through the cosmos for eternity.
A Humorous Take on History
To generate buzz ahead of the transmission, Jung von Matt DONAU has produced a playful short film exploring why The Blue Danube never made it onto the Voyager Golden Records.
Additionally, a dedicated microsite will allow visitors to symbolically “adopt” one of The Blue Danube’s 13,743 notes, linking each participant’s name to the music’s interstellar journey and fostering a direct connection to Vienna’s rich cultural heritage. The adoption campaign will be promoted through a series of creative ads designed to engage music lovers and space enthusiasts alike.