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, 30. November 196620.30 o' clock Fairmont ⁄ Fairmont Theatre
Concert in Fairmont 1st. Canada and USA tour
Eduard Strauss II conductor Dagmar Koller soprano Walter Kraeutler tenor
Program Johann Strauss II : Ouverture to «Die Fledermaus» Josef Strauss : My Character is Love and Joy / Waltz op. 263 Johann Strauss II : Barons opening Aria from «Der Zigeunerbaron» Josef Strauss : Heart of Woman / Polka mazurka op. 166 Johann Strauss II : «Mein Herr Marquis», Lachcouplet der Adele aus der Operette "Die Fledermaus" Johann Strauss II : Light of Heart / Quick polka op. 319 Johann Strauss II : Tales from the Vienna Woods / Waltz op. 325 Break Johann Strauss II : Opening march from the operetta «The Gypsy Baron» Johann Strauss II : Artist’s Life / Waltz op. 316 Johann Strauss II : «Draußen in Sievering blüht schon der Flieder», Walzerlied aus der Operette «Die Tänzerin Fanny Elssler» Johann & Josef Strauss : Pizzicato Polka Johann Strauss II : «Komm in die Gondel, mein Liebchen» aus der Operette «Eine Nacht in Venedig» Johann Strauss II : Chit-Chat Polka op. 214 Johann Strauss II : Wer uns getraut, Duett aus der Operette «Der Zigeunerbaron» Johann Strauss II : The Blue Danube / Waltz op. 314 Encore Johann Strauss I : Radetzky March op. 228 Johann Strauss II : Tick Tock / Quick polka op. 365 Johann Strauss II : Duett aus der Operette «Wiener Blut»
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