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
Wednesday, 01. May 202411.00 o' clock Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal
Frühlingskonzert im Goldenen Saal
Christoph Koncz conductor
Program Johann Strauss II : Ouverture to «Die Fledermaus» Johann Strauss II : Bitte schön / Polka française op. 372 Johann Strauss II : Perpetual Motion / Musical joke op. 257 Johann Strauss II : Treasure Waltz op. 418 Johann Strauss II : Eljen A Magyar! « Long Live the Magyar!» / Quick polka op. 332 Josef Strauss : Delirien / Waltz op. 212 Break Otto Nicolai : Ouverture zur Oper «Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor» Josef Strauss : Heart of Woman / Polka mazurka op. 166 Josef Strauss : Music of the Spheres / Waltz op. 235 Josef Strauss : On Holiday Travels! / Quick polka op. 133 Léo Delibes : Pizzicato from the ballet Sylvia Johann Strauss II : The Blue Danube / Waltz op. 314 Encore Joseph Hellmesberger jun. : Leichtfüssig / Polka schnell op. 184 Johann Strauss I : Radetzky March op. 228
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