Die Fledermaus

About this event

Johann Strauss's most celebrated operetta sends the audience to a grand ball where nothing is as it seems. Gabriel von Eisenstein, a Viennese bon vivant, should be starting a short prison sentence but instead sneaks off to Prince Orlofsky's party. His wife Rosalinde, suspecting infidelity, appears disguised as a Hungarian countess, while prison warden Frank poses as a French chevalier. What follows is a champagne-soaked comedy of flirtation, masked identities, and a spectacular hangover the next morning in a jail cell already occupied by the wrong tenor. The score is a cascade of waltzes, polkas, and soaring melodies, anchored by the famous 'Brüderlein, Schwesterlein' ensemble. Papageno Musiktheater stages the piece with a live chamber ensemble in the intimacy of its own house, running just over two hours including an interval. The humour is rooted in farce and physical comedy, particularly in the figure of the permanently tipsy gaoler Frosch, and the cast leans into the wit with crisp German dialogue and sung arias. Anyone who enjoys classic operetta, Viennese charm, or an evening of polished silliness will find a warm and lively production here.