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, 12. September 202111.00 o' clock Grafenegg / Wolkenturm
Festkonzert in Grafenegg
Alfred Eschwé conductor Barbara Laister-Ebner Zither soloist
Program Johann Strauss II : Ouverture to «Die Fledermaus» Josef Strauss : Artists's Greeting / Polka française op. 274 Josef Strauss : Carriére / polka fast op. 200 Josef Strauss : Mysterious Powers of Attraction (Dynamiden) / Waltz op. 173 Josef Strauss : The Dragonfly / Polka mazurka op. 204 Josef Strauss : In a Flash / Quick polka op. 230 Joseph Lanner : Hofball-Tänze / Walzer op. 161 Break Johann Strauss II : Overture to the Operetta «Indigo and the Forty Thieves» Johann Strauss II : Tales from the Vienna Woods / Waltz op. 325 Josef Strauss : Eingesendet / Polka schnell op. 240 Johann Strauss II : Peasants Polka / Polka française op. 276 Johann Strauss II : Orpheus Quadrille op. 236 Johann Strauss II : Let’ s Away! / Quick polka op. 383 Johann Strauss II : Emperor Waltz op. 437
Grafenegg / Wolkenturm Grafenegg 10 3485 Grafenegg Austria Website About the concert hall Travel Directions Show Map
Do you want to be informed about our events? Sign up for our newsletter.
Concerts
Orchestra
Media
Shop
Licenses
Contact
Sitelinks
Partner
Newsletter