The Bat Comic operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II

Comic operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II

Libretto by Carl Hafner and Richard Gene

On the farce of JR Benedict The Prison and the lead of Henri Mayak and Louis Alevi The Midnight Ball

 

Conductor - IVAN KOZHUKHAROV

Production by Hans Newwenhuis

Director - DARINA GLAVANAKOVA-BAKARDZHIEVA

Choir Conductor  - NEVENA MIHAYLOVA

Set design and costumes by MADIS NURMS

Dancing - NEDKO GEORGIEV

Concertmaster - YORDAN KOVACHEV

 

Actors

Gabriel von Eisenstein

Rosalind, his wife

Adela, Rosalind's maid

Ida, Adela's sister

Alfred, a music student

Dr. Falke, notary public

Dr. Blind, lawyer

Frank, the prison director

Prince Orlovsky

Frosh, a prison warden

Guests and servants of the ball at Prince Orlovsky (choir)

 

History of creation

            The bat's premiere took place on April 5, 1874, at the Vienna Theater an der Vin, and has since become an integral part of the operetta's repertoire. On November 21, the same year, the work was staged at the New York Bowie Theater, and two years later, on December 18, 1976 - and at the Alahambra Theater in London - in English and heavily adapted by Hamilton Clark. text. The London premiere of The Bat in the original language was only in 1895 at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

Content

First action

Eisenstein House

            Under the window of Eisenstein's house, the beloved music teacher Alfred sings a serenade. However, his sympathetic song is heard only by the maid Adela, whose mockery disappointed the lover. She reads a letter from her sister Ida. Ida invites Adela to attend a ball at the famous patron, Prince Orlovsky. Adela is ecstatic - she has long become an actress, and the prince is known for his patronizing attitude to theatrical art. At this time Rosalinda enters. The maid immediately makes a sad face - is it possible that she will be away tonight because her beloved aunt is seriously ill. Rosalinda agrees. Alfred's call is heard from the street. However, Rosalind is adamant that she is loyal to her husband.

            The enraged Eisenstein appears, accompanied by his lawyer Blind. Due to the latter's ineptitude, Eisenstein lost his lawsuit and now has to spend eight days in prison for his quarrel with an officer. After the hurricane of indictments exploded between them, the lawyer left. Adela announces that notary Falke, a friend of Eisenstein, has come to invite Prince Orlovski to a ball. According to Falke, grand fun was emerging. The notary offers Eisenstein to tell Rosalinda that he is going to jail and, in fact, to do so in the morning after the ball. Eisenstein agrees. With good sadness, he says goodbye to his wife and goes out. Right after him, Adela comes out.

            Rosalind is left alone at home. Suddenly, however, Alfred appears. He came to testify to her once again his love. In the midst of his explanations, the prison director Frank arrives - to bring the convicted Eisenstein. Seeing Rosalind alone with Alfred, Frank takes the latter to Eisenstein. In order not to compromise his beloved, the music teacher pretends to Eisenstein and goes to the prison cell with Frank.

 

Second action

            Hall in the Palace of Prince Orlovsky

            Guests sing and dance. But the host, the millionaire Prince Orlovsky, is bored. Nothing has been able to cheer him up for a long time. Falke, however, promised to arrange such an entertainment tonight that even a prince would smile. Adela and Ida appear. Falke introduces Adele to those in attendance as Olga, a famous Russian actress. The newcomer Eisenstein, on the other hand, declares the French Marquis Renard. But Eisenstein instantly falls into a rather stupid position, claiming that the "Russian theater star" is actually his own maid. The prince and all those present are more than indignant at such a statement - is this still a famous Russian actress ?! Arriving at the ball, prison director Frank Falke presents as the French knight Chagren. For the cover, Falke has prepared another surprise for the guests - a mysterious Hungarian Countess who will come in disguise.

            The Countess herself appears. This is actually Rosalinda, who also received an invitation from Balke for a ball, accompanied by a Hungarian costume. When Eisenstein, Adela, and Frank are presented with fictitious names, Rosalind is outraged, but it shows nothing. Eisenstein immediately explains himself in the love of a beautiful stranger. However, Rosalind refuses to take off her mask. During a tête-à-tête love affair, the predestined young woman receives an expensive watch from her own husband, which she could later use as evidence of his infidelity. To prove she's really Hungarian, Rosalinda dances a Hungarian chardash. Eisenstein, intoxicated by his new love affair, decides to entertain the guests with a spicy incident from the life of the notary Falk: after last year's mask ball at the opera, the latter got so drunk that he was not even able to walk; then Eisenstein left him to sleep on a bench in central city square. The funniest thing was that the next morning, a Falke bathed woke up in the heart of the city - the ridicule of all passers-by accompanied him all along his shameful journey home. Eisenstein's joke is heard by Prince Orlovsky and Falke himself. Now you understand the purpose of my actions tonight, says Falke, "this is revenge for the humiliating bat event." The ball is about to end. The guests sing a song together.

 

Third action

                 In jail

            The rest of the prison guard Frosh only breaks Alfred, who sings arias from various operas in his cell full throat. At dawn, Frank returns, questioning the warden about how the night went to prison. Suddenly Ida and Adela appear. They continue to play Frank, pretending to consider him French. Adela, who claims to be a Russian actress, demonstrates her art. Shortly afterward, hearing that someone was coming, the prison director hid the two sisters in one of the cells. The newcomer is actually Eisenstein, whom Frank considers Marquis Renard. Eisenstein, in turn, continues to perceive Frank as the knight Shagren.

        Attorney Blind arrives in prison. He obtained a reassessment of a previous court ruling ordering Eisenstein to be released. Frosh lets Alfred out of the cell. Rosalinda appears. A violent feud formed between her and Eisenstein. Eisenstein had to explain why Alfred went to prison for him. In response, Rosalinda shows her husband the watch he gave himself to the mysterious Hungarian. Eisenstein is charged with infidelity. Frank releases Ida and Adela from the cell. Prince Orlovski and Falke also appear. The prince promises Adele to assist her debut as an actress and thanks Falke - for a long time he has not had as much fun with his heart as he does now. Falke's notary is also pleased - the revenge for the bat humiliation is successful - Eisenstein is presented in his turn in the form of a fool before the whole community. Rosalinda forgives her husband. They all sing the final song together.