Die Fledermaus

Die Fledermaus (The Bat) is a comic operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Carl Haffner and Richard Genée. It premièred on April 5, 1874 at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria.

Recent productions

Over the decades, the non-singing role of Frosch, the drunken jailer, who first appears in Act III, has come to be seen as the comic highlight of each production. Accordingly, casting usually pays special attention to that character, and Frosch is almost always played by a well-known and much-loved comedian.

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In many modern productions, the role of Prince Orlofsky is played by a woman.

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While being the show traditionally performed in theatres on New Year's Eve, Die Fledermaus has recently also seen more provocative productions, for example the one directed by Hans Neuenfels at the 2001 Salzburg Festival. With the action transposed into the 1920s, the ball at Orlofsky's metamorphoses into an orgy where decadent guests preferring cocaine to champagne meet some of the harbingers of Nazism — a place where any waltz immediately becomes a waltz into darkness. The scandal had been announced by artistic director Gérard Mortier, but nevertheless part of the audience reacted with fierce criticism. Among the critics was a 57 year-old general practitioner who, supported by Austria's authority on opera, Marcel Prawy, at least one tabloid, and the Austrian Freedom Party, sued the Salzburg Festival, demanding his money back. The ensuing trial triggered a heated debate on the state of the freedom of the arts in Austria.

Related Topics:
Hans Neuenfels - 2001 - Salzburg Festival - 1920s - Cocaine - Champagne - Nazism - Gérard Mortier - Opera - Marcel Prawy - Tabloid - Austrian Freedom Party

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A production that opened on June 22 2005 at the Belgrade National Theatre, Serbia was directed by Plamen Kartaloff. The costumes, designed by noted Serbian painter and sculptor Olja Ivanjicki, together with the choreography alluded to the "Fledermaus" as Batman. This was the sixth production of Die Fledermaus in Belgrade since it had its premiere there on May 26 1907.

Related Topics:
June 22 - 2005 - Belgrade National Theatre, Serbia - Olja Ivanjicki - Belgrade - May 26 - 1907

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