Strauss, Isaac

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Strauss, Isaac

Strauss, Isaac, French violinist, conductor, and composer; b. Strasbourg, June 2, 1806; d. Paris, Aug. 9, 1888. He went to Paris and learned to play the violin before completing his musical training at the Cons. (1826–28). After playing violin in the orch. of the Théâtre-Italien until 1843, he conducted a spa orch. in Vichy until 1863. He also was music director of the court balls (1852–70) and of the Opéra balls (1870–72) in Paris. Strauss became highly successful as a conductor and composer of light music, producing many popular waltzes, polkas, galops, and quadrilles. Some of his works were given the same titles as those by Johann Strauss Sr., which led to considerable confusion.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire