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
Saturday, 13. January 201815.00 o' clock Joetsu ⁄ Bunka Kaikan
Concert in Joetsu Thirty-fifth Japan tour
Johannes Wildner conductor
Program Johann Strauss II : Ouverture to «Die Fledermaus» Josef Strauss : Forward! / Quick Polka op. 127 Josef Strauss : Music of the Spheres / Waltz op. 235 Josef Strauss : From Afar / Polka mazurka op. 270 Eduard Strauss I : Clear the Track! / Quick polka op. 45 Johann Strauss II : Voices of Spring / Waltz op. 410 Break Franz von Suppè : Overture to «Banditenstreiche» Franz Lehár : Gold and Silver / Waltz op. 79 Johann Strauss II : Chit-Chat Polka op. 214 Johann Strauss II : Melodien-Quadrille op. 112 Johann Strauss II : Cuckoo Polka / Polka française op. 336 Johann Strauss II : Thunder and Lightning / Quick polka op. 324 Johann Strauss II : The Blue Danube / Waltz op. 314
To obtain more information about this tour, please visit the website of the Agency Concertdoors (Only available in Japanese) For an overall view of all concerts of this tour, please click HERE
Joetsu ⁄ Bunka Kaikan Joetsu Japan Website
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