Description

The title "Annen-Polka" refers to the Annen Festival on the occasion of St. Anne's Day on 26 July, which is very popular in Vienna. Johann Strauss (son) composed a polka for this occasion in 1852 and dedicated it to the then Empress of Austria, Maria Anna (1803 - 1884). The empress spoke only French and hardly spoke German, but this did not harm her popularity at all. In the monarchy, the empress' name day was celebrated on 26 July. The world premiere of "Annen-Polka" took place on 24 July 1852 in Vienna's Prater.

The Annen Polka was also used as the so-called "Schwipslied" in the operetta "A Night in Venice". The original key of the "Schwips Lied" operetta is D major.