Johann (II) was a violinist and the most eminent member of the family, directing his own orchestra between 1844-9, in rivalry with his father's. After 1849 the two Strauss bands were merged into one. Vienna's imperial-royal music director for balls, 1863-71, and Austria's beat-known ambassador (the 'king of the waltz'), he was acclaimed by swarms of admirers, especially on European tours between 1856-86, and in the USA in 1872.

In form, his waltzes resembled his father's - slow introduction, five waltzes and coda - but the sections are longer and more organic; the melodies, often inspired, are wide and sweeping, the harmonic and orchestral details richer and more subtle, even Wagnerian in places.

Among his most celebrated waltz masterpieces, dating from the 1860s and early 1870s, are Accellerationen op.234, Wiener Bonbons op.307, An die schonen, blauen Donau ('The Blue Danube') op.314, Wein, Weib und Gesang op.333 and Wiener Blut op.354.

Of his 17 operettas, the sparkling Die Fledermaus (1874) and the colourful Die Zigeunerbaron (1885) deservedly claim a central place in the repertory.