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, 26. October 200811.00 o' clock Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal
Konzert zum Nationalfeiertag
Johannes Wildner conductor & speaker
Program Johann Strauss II : Ouverture to «Die Fledermaus» Johann Strauss II : From the Banks of the Danube / Quick polka op. 356 Johann Strauss II : Greetings from Austria / Polka mazurka op. 359 Johann Strauss II : Where the Lemon Trees Blossom / Waltz op. 364 Josef Strauss : Jockey / Quick polka op. 278 Johann Strauss II : Egyptian March op. 335 Johann Strauss II : Tales from the Vienna Woods / Waltz op. 325 Break Johann Strauss II : Overture to the operetta "The Gypsy Baron" Johann Strauss II : Fata Morgana / Polka mazurka op. 330 Josef Strauss : My Character is Love and Joy / Waltz op. 263 Johann Strauss II : Excursion Train / Quick polka op. 281 Johann & Josef Strauss : Pizzicato Polka Johann Strauss II : Hunting / Quick polka op. 373 Johann Strauss II : The Blue Danube / Waltz op. 314 Encore Johann Strauss II : Thunder and Lightning / Quick polka op. 324 Josef Strauss : Without a Care! / Quick polka op. 271 Johann Strauss I : Radetzky March op. 228
Veranstalter: Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien Zyklus: Außerordentliches Gesellschaftskonzert Quelle: Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien Bemerkungen: Alfred Eschwé mußte seine Teilnahme an dem Konzert absagen. Dankenswerterweise erklärte sich Johannes Wildner bereit, die Leitung des Konzertes zu übernehmen.
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