Vienna Music Film Festival
Johann Strauss Jr.: Die Fledermaus (Bavarian State Opera, 2023)
Program
Johann Strauss Jr.: Die Fledermaus (Bavarian State Opera, 2023)
The operetta Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss Jr. premiered in 1874 in Vienna and immediately gained exceptional popularity, becoming synonymous with the operetta genre. Within just six years of its premiere, this three-act operetta was staged in more than 170 German-speaking theatres. Gustav Mahler declared it the best comic opera, and it received praise from Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms, Arturo Toscanini, Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, and many other great artists. It is often referred to as the ‘operetta of operettas’, a title it rightfully holds due to its strong characterization, rich melody, varied orchestral sound, lightness, and genuine joy it brings to the stage.
The libretto of Die Fledermaus was written by Carl Haffner and Richard Genée, based on the farce The Prison by Julius Roderich Benedix and the vaudeville Le Révellion by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, adapted to suit the Viennese mood. Combining the Parisian penchant for parody with Viennese charm, Johann Strauss Jr. created a masterpiece. After Max Reinhardt’s direction at the Berlin Opera House in 1928, it became an indispensable part of the repertoire in opera houses around the world.
*Note: In case of unfavorable weather conditions the day before, instead of the screening of Die Fledermaus, a concert by the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and soloists Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi and Caterina Iora (Cine y tango) will take place at 9:00 p.m.
