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
Thursday, 11. June 200919.00 o' clock Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal
Concert at the Musikverein Vienna
Rudolf Streicher conductor
Program Johann Strauss II : Ouverture to «Die Fledermaus» Josef Strauss : On Holiday Travels! / Quick polka op. 133 Johann Strauss II : Peasants Polka / Polka française op. 276 Johann Strauss II : Eljen A Magyar! « Long Live the Magyar!» / Quick polka op. 332 Johann Strauss II : Czech Polka op. 13 Johann Strauss II : Travel Adventures / Waltz op. 227 Johann Strauss II : Russian March op. 426 Johann Strauss I : Chinese Galopp op. 20 Josef Strauss : In a Flash / Quick polka op. 230 Break Johann Strauss II : Overture to «A Night in Venice» Eduard Strauss I : Clear the Track! / Quick polka op. 45 Johann Strauss II : Emperor Waltz op. 437 Johann Strauss II : Thunder and Lightning / Quick polka op. 324 Johann & Josef Strauss : Pizzicato Polka Johann Strauss II : From the Banks of the Danube / Quick polka op. 356 Encore Johann Strauss I : Radetzky March op. 228
Veranstalter: WIENCOM Quelle: Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde Wien
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