Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus

Vienna, the 19th century, one unforgettable night... Doctor Falke carefully plots a lighthearted revenge against his friend Gabriel von Eisenstein, who forced him to walk through the city dressed as a bat several years earlier. The third operetta by Johann Strauss II, Die Fledermaus (1874) is a raucous masterpiece of the genre, universally beloved for its musical qualities as well as the wit of its libretto. The work's overture, the Act I trio, and the Act II waltz are particularly notable in contributing to the operetta's lasting success.

In 1950, Clemens Krauss directed an admirable interpretation of Die Fledermaus, which was followed by the celebrated versions of Karajan and Kleiber. A new generation of stage directors have transposed the action of the operetta to the present day—as is the case here in Hans Neuenfels's reimagining, which also introduces new dialogues into the original libretto. The ballroom gets dressed up as a disco hall, and partygoers partake in cocaine instead of champagne—a risqué modernization that did not fail to stir controversy... With the always excellent Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg in the pit, the marvelous Marc Minkowski brings out all the intoxicating rhythms of the Viennese waltz.