On Easter Sunday in 1874, the operetta "Die Fledermaus (The bat)" by Johann Strauss II was performed for the first time at the Theater an der Wien. The performance was quite successful. There were 40 performances en suite, and only the illness of a leading actress, who subsequently left the ensemble, ended the series. However, the special status of the operetta as the pinnacle of the entire genre was not recognized until later, first in Berlin and Budapest. In Vienna, the critics raised all sorts of objections after the premiere, especially against the libretto by Richard Genée. Today these objections are found ridiculous, and if the American film industry had already been in the habit of awarding particularly successful products with a whole series of awards, then "The Bat" would have deserved a few Oscars: at least for the music, but also for the cleverly structured book and for the best supporting role (because the prison servant frog later became the obligatory “third-act comedian” in operettas). And there would have been a special Oscar for the overture to "The Bat": because its ingenious structure, the charming interplay of motifs and its enchanting, brilliant verve was unmatched by any later operetta prelude. Like the entire operetta, it is a top work of its kind.
Johann Strauss (Sohn): Ouverture zu «Die Fledermaus» © by WJSO-Archive
Sunday, 13. October 199611.00 o' clock Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal
anniversary concert «30 years Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra»
Alfred Eschwé conductor
Program Johann Strauss II : Ouverture to «Die Fledermaus» Johann Strauss II : Electromagnetic Polka op. 110 Josef Strauss : Jockey / Quick polka op. 278 Johann Strauss II : Mephisto’s Summons to Hell / Waltz op. 101 Josef Strauss : Heart of Woman / Polka mazurka op. 166 Johann Strauss II : Tempestuous in Love and Dance op. 393 Johann Strauss II : Voices of Spring / Waltz op. 410 Johann Strauss II : Furioso Polka op. 260 Break Johann Strauss II : Overture to the operetta «Carnival in Rome» Johann Strauss II : Peasants Polka / Polka française op. 276 Johann Strauss II : Morning Papers / Waltz op. 279 Johann & Josef Strauss : Pizzicato Polka Johann Strauss II : Perpetual Motion / Musical joke op. 257 Johann Strauss II : Explosions Polka op. 43 Johann Strauss II : The Blue Danube / Waltz op. 314 Encore Johann Strauss I : Radetzky March op. 228
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