The Bat, Johann Strauss

OPERETTE in the KRYPTA
presents

Die Fledermaus
Johann Strauss

Start the new year with a masterpiece of Viennese musical history: Austria’s operetta specialists, the ensemble Oper@Tee, present Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus in its original version and full length.
In the unique atmosphere of the Krypta beneath St. Peter’s Church, you will experience this famous work in sparkling musical brilliance. First-class entertainment and an unforgettable evening are guaranteed!
Established as Austria’s smallest theater, the concerts and opera performances impress with their high quality and the unusual venue. Located deep beneath Vienna’s St. Peter’s Church, the Krypta offers personal, intense classical experiences.
The KRYPTA is pleasantly tempered all year round.

Plot

Act I
Gabriel von Eisenstein is to spend the night in prison for insulting an official. Instead, he follows the advice of his friend Falke to enjoy himself first at Prince Orlofsky’s party. But Falke secretly has other plans: Eisenstein once played him a humiliating prank, which now demands revenge.
As Eisenstein bids farewell for his supposed prison stay, his wife Rosalinde gladly lets him go. She also grants permission to the maid Adele, who asks to visit an ailing relative. As soon as the house is empty, Rosalinde’s former lover Alfred arrives for a secret rendezvous. Their meeting is interrupted by prison governor Frank, who has come to escort Eisenstein to jail. To save Rosalinde from embarrassment, Alfred pretends to be her husband and allows himself to be arrested.

Act II
At Prince Orlofsky’s party, Falke assures his host that Eisenstein will be the victim of a cruel joke that very evening. Eisenstein soon arrives, introducing himself as “Marquis Renard.” Adele, who is also present, is introduced as the artist Olga. When Eisenstein accuses her of being his maid, she indignantly denies it.
Prison governor Frank appears as “Chevalier Chagrin,” and finally Rosalinde also arrives, masked as a Hungarian countess, persuaded by Falke that she will find her husband at the ball. Eisenstein is captivated by the “unknown” beauty, while Rosalinde cleverly secures his pocket watch to later prove his infidelity.
In a drunken mood, Eisenstein entertains the guests by recalling how he once mocked Falke by abandoning him drunk and dressed as a bat in a public square on Ash Wednesday, leaving him to the ridicule of passersby.

Act III
At dawn, the badly hungover Frank returns to his prison duties. Suddenly, Adele and her sister Ida appear. Having followed the supposed “Chevalier,” they reveal their true identities. Believing still that she has found a patron, Adele begs Frank to finance her acting training.
Eisenstein arrives at the prison to serve his sentence, only to be told by the jailer Frosch that he had already been arrested the previous evening. To his surprise, the prisoner turns out to be Alfred. When Rosalinde also appears, Eisenstein realizes the truth. His anger fades when she produces the pocket watch, reminding him of his flirtation with the “Hungarian countess.”
In the end, the entire company, including Prince Orlofsky and Falke, gathers at the prison. The ruse is revealed: it was Falke’s revenge plan, the “Fledermaus.” Finally, the cheerful prince promises to become Adele’s patron.

Program and cast

Ensemble Oper@Tee
Stage Direction - Anna Borodina
Musical Direction - Wolfgang Fritzsche