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
Monday, 26. October 202611.00 o' clock Vienna ⁄ Musikverein ⁄ The Große Musikvereinssaal
Konzert zum Nationalfeiertag
Johannes Wildner conductor Ilia Staple soprano
Program Johann Strauss II : Ouverture to «Die Fledermaus» Johann Strauss II : Tick Tock / Quick polka op. 365 Johann Strauss II : «Mein Herr Marquis», Lachcouplet der Adele aus der Operette "Die Fledermaus" Johann, Josef & Eduard Strauss II. : Trefoil / Waltz Johann, Josef & Eduard Strauss II. : Sharpshooters Quadrille Josef Strauss : For ever / Quick polka op. 193 Johann Strauss II : Voices of Spring / Waltz for soprano and orchestra op. 410 Break Johann Strauss II : Indigo March op. 349 Johann Strauss II : Bacchanale from the operetta «Indigo und die vierzig Räuber» Johann Strauss III : Unter den Linden / Walzer op. 30 Johann Strauss II : Csárdás from the opera «Knight Pásmán» op. 441 Carl Michael Ziehrer : Walk In / Waltz op. 518 Johann & Josef Strauss : Pizzicato Polka Johann Strauss II : Emperor Waltz op. 437
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