EVENINGS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC - BAHRAIN - |
PROGRAMME FOR 14 AUGUST 2002 |
DIE FLEDERMAUS Operetta by JOHANN STRAUSS (1825-99) |
Operetta in three acts Libretto: Karl Haffner and Richard Genee Premiere: 5 April 1874, Vienna |
CAST (in order of appearance) Adele, maid of Eisenstein and Rosalinde Rosalinde, wife of Eisenstein Alfredo, Rosalinde's admirer Gabriel von Eisenstein, a rich gentleman Dr Blind, Eisenstein's lawyer Falke, Eisenstein's friend Frank, the governor of the prison Orlofsky, a young Russian prince Ida, Adele's sister Ivan, Orlofsky's servant Frosch, a jailer |
- Hildegard Heichele - Kiri Te Kanawa - Dennis O'Neill - Hermann Prey - Paul Crook - Benjamin Luxon - Michael Langdon - Doris Soffel - Ingrid Baier - Richard Hazell - Josef Meinrad |
Chorus & Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden conducted by PLACIDO DOMINGO |
SYNOPSIS The plot of the operetta is spun around a masked ball hosted by Prince Orlofsky. ACT 1 Throughout the course of the first act, set in an elegant apartment, each of the dramatis personae is magically drawn to Prince Orlofsky's ball. Adele, the maid, has been invited by her sister Ida, and is forced to invent a tale of woe about a sick aunt in order to get leave for the evening. Her master, Eisenstein, is due to start a week-long prison sentence (for insulting a police officer) the following morning, but his friend, Dr Falke, persuades him to spend his last few hours of freedom at Orlofsky's party. Falke, however, is merely intent on putting into operation his own little scheme, for Eisenstein had once made him look a fool in front of the Viennese public by abandoning him in a drunken stupor at six o'clock in the morning on their way home from a masked ball - still disguised as a bat. Recognising the opportunity for revenge, Falke secretly invites Eisenstein's wife, Rosalinde, with the intention of compromising the flirtatious couple during the course of the ball. No sooner has she waved a tearful farewell to her husband, whom she believes to be going straight to jail, than her admirer Alfredo appears for a pre-arranged meeting at her apartment. At the height of their champagne moment, though, the prison governor Frank appears unannounced and arrests Alfredo, thinking him to be Eisenstein. ACT 2 As the masquerade progresses, all Dr Falke's intrigue go perfectly to plan. Eisenstein, Rosalinde, Frank and Adele get on famousl behind their masks and assumed identities. First, Eisenstein flirts with his maid Adele, who is posing as a lady of standing in her mistress' finery. Then he befriends Frank, as yet unknown to him as the prison governor. Finally, he fails to see through the disguise of his own wife, who has arrived dressed as a Hungarian countess. Rosalinde recognises her husband, however, and during their flirtatious exchanges she succeeds in dispossessing him of his small gold pocket watch, to be used later against him as evidence of his intended infidelity. As the hours pass, the champagne flows - the party is a splendid success, and includes a gala concert by special guest artists. Suddenly the bell chimes announce six o'clock, and bring proceedings to a close. Eisenstein hurries off to begin his jail sentence. ACT 3 The last act is set in the prison, to which, one by one, all the characters find their way. Adele has followed the hung-over Frank, in whom she sees a possible benefactor and sponsor for the furtherance of her thespian talents. When Eisenstein arrives, he discovers to his amazement that someone else has been locked up in his place. Then Rosalinde appears and removes her disguise as a countess. Eisenstein realises he has been made to look a fool by flirting with his own wife, but then Falke exposes the tryst between Rosalinde and Alfredo. Falke's plot has had the desired effect. However, the married couple realise the error of their ways and, in eager anticipation of the next ball, the whole company joins in the finale - "The champagne was to blame....!" |
Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on New Year's Eve 1984 Sung in German with English Sub-titles Director: Humphrey Burton |
Special Guests in Act 2: Dame Hilda Bracket & Dr Evadne Hinge; Charles Aznavour; Merle Park & Wayne Eagling |
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