Famous New Zealand soprano Kiri Te Kanawa is featured in this glittering Covent Garden Opera production of Johann Strauss’ masterpiece: Die Fledermaus (The Bat), an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner (de) and Richard Genée. Plácido Domingo conducts the Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus. Other soloists include Hermann Prey, Hildegard Heichele, Benjamin Luxon. Recorded at the New Years Eve 1984 at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. An outstanding, clever, and funny production of Die Fledermaus.

The operetta premiered on 5 April 1874 at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna and has been part of the regular repertoire ever since.

Soloists:

Kiri Te Kanawa – Rosalinde, Eisenstein’s wife (soprano),
Hildegard Heichele – Adele, Rosalinde’s maid (soprano),
Hermann Prey – Eisenstein (baritone),
Doris Soffel – Prince Orlofsky (mezzo-soprano)

The role of Eisenstein was originally written for a tenor, but is nowadays frequently sung by a baritone.

“Most opera houses ring in the New Year with Johann Strauss Jr.’s most popular operetta–the festiveness of which is appropriate for the occasion–and this December 31, 1983, Covent Garden performance follows suit. An exceptional cast–led by Hermann Prey and Kiri Te Kanawa as the couple whose marriage survives the comic indiscretions of three long acts–obviously has as much fun as the audience. Plácido Domingo leads the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House through its paces with panache. Prince Orlofsky’s Act II party is always a splendid opportunity to pull out all the stops with surprise “guests,” and this performance makes the most of its chance: entering the proceedings to sing one of his tailor-made chansons, “She,” is French crooner Charles Aznavour, who is followed by dancers Merle Park and Wayne Eagling, their delightful pas de deux flashily choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton.” — Kevin Filipski

Synopsis

Act 1

Eisenstein’s apartment

Gabriel von Eisenstein has been sentenced to eight days in prison for insulting an official, partially due to the incompetence of his attorney, Dr. Blind. Adele, Eisenstein’s maid, receives a letter from her sister, who is in the company of the ballet, inviting her to Prince Orlofsky’s ball. She pretends the letter says that her aunt is very sick, and asks for a leave of absence (“Da schreibt meine Schwester Ida”/”My sister Ida writes to me”). Falke, Eisenstein’s friend, arrives to invite him to the ball (Duet: “Kommt mit mir zum Souper”/”Come with me to the souper”). Eisenstein bids farewell to Adele and his wife Rosalinde, pretending he is going to prison (Trio: “O Gott, wie rührt mich dies!”/”Oh dear, oh dear, how sorry I am”) but really intending to postpone jail for one day and have fun at the ball.

After Eisenstein leaves, Rosalinde is visited by her former lover, the singing teacher Alfred, who serenades her (“Täubchen, das entflattert ist”/”Dove that has escaped”). Frank, the governor of the prison, arrives to take Eisenstein to jail, and finds Alfred instead. In order not to compromise Rosalinde, Alfred agrees to pretend to be Eisenstein and to accompany Frank. (Finale, drinking song: “Glücklich ist, wer vergisst”/”Happy is he who forgets” followed by Rosalinde’s defence when Frank arrives: “Mit mir so spät im tête-à-tête”/”In tête-à-tête with me so late,” and Frank’s invitation: “Mein schönes, großes Vogelhaus”/”My beautiful, large bird-cage.”)

Act 2

A summer house in the Villa Orlovsky

It turns out that Falke, with Prince Orlofsky’s permission, is orchestrating the ball as a way of getting revenge on Eisenstein. The previous winter, Eisenstein had abandoned a drunken Falke dressed as a bat (and thus explaining the opera’s title) in the center of town, exposing him to ridicule the next day. As part of his scheme, Falke has invited Frank, Adele, and Rosalinde to the ball as well. Rosalinde pretends to be a Hungarian countess, Eisenstein goes by the name “Marquis Renard,” Frank is “Chevalier Chagrin,” and Adele pretends she is an actress.

The ball is in progress (Chorus: “Ein Souper heut’ uns winkt”/”A souper is before us”) and the Prince welcomes his guests (“Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein”/”I love to invite my friends”). Eisenstein is introduced to Adele, but is confused as to who she really is because of her striking resemblance to his maid. (“Mein Herr Marquis”/”My lord marquis,” sometimes referred to as “Adele’s Laughing Song” or “The Laughing Song”).

Some productions insert Strauss’s “Frühlingsstimmen” (“Voices of Spring”) waltz at this point, sung by a guest soprano.

Then Falke introduces the disguised Rosalinde to Eisenstein (Csárdás: “Klänge der Heimat”/”Sounds from home”). During an amorous tête-à-tête, she succeeds in extracting a valuable watch from her husband’s pocket, something which she can use in the future as evidence of his impropriety. (Watch duet: “Ach, wie wird mein Auge trübe”/”My eyes will soon be dim”). In a rousing finale, the company celebrates (The Drinking song: “Im Feuerstrom der Reben”/”In the fire stream of the grape”; followed by the canon: “Brüderlein, Brüderlein und Schwesterlein”/”Brothers, brothers and sisters”; the polka “Unter Donner und Blitz” (in versions led by Carlos Kleiber and others following his example), and the waltz finale, “Ha, welch ein Fest, welche Nacht voll Freud’!”/”Ha, what joy, what a night of delight.”)

Act 3

In the prison offices of Governor Frank

The next morning they all find themselves at the prison where the confusion increases and is compounded by the jailer, Frosch, who has profited by the absence of the prison director to become gloriously drunk.

Adele arrives to obtain the assistance of the Chevalier Chagrin (Melodrama; Couplet of Adele: “Spiel’ ich die Unschuld vom Lande”/”If I play the innocent peasant maid”) while Alfred wants nothing more than to get out of jail. Knowing of Eisenstein’s trickery, Rosalinde wants to begin an action for divorce, and Frank is still intoxicated.

Frosch locks up Adele and her sister Ida, and the height of the tumult arrives when Falke appears with all the guests of the ball and declares the whole thing is an act of vengeance for the “Fledermaus”. (Trio between Rosalinde, Eisenstein, Alfred: “Ein seltsam Abenteuer”/”A strange adventure”). Everything is amicably arranged (with Eisenstein blaming the intoxicating effects of champagne for his act of infidelity and Frank volunteering to support Adele’s artistic career), but Eisenstein is compelled to serve his full term in jail (Finale, “O Fledermaus, o Fledermaus”/”Oh bat, oh bat, at last let thy victim escape”).

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres

Published by M. Özgür Nevres

I am Özgür Nevres, a software engineer, a former road racing cyclist, and also an amateur musician. I opened andantemoderato.com to share my favorite music. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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