We’re hosting opera’s biggest party this December and you’re all invited!
Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (The Bat) is a rip-roaring comedy filled with deceit, betrayal, and champagne. Lots of champagne.
The bubbles flow freely as exuberant characters descend upon Prince Orlofsky’s New Year’s Eve party, but thanks to the mischievous Dr Falke, confusion and mistaken identity soon ensue. He’s out for playful vengeance against his friend Gabriel von Eisenstein, who once left him in a drunken stupor for the whole the town to see.
To get him back, Falke plots to expose Eisenstein’s flirtatious ways to his wife Rosalinde and convinces him to join him at the ball for one last rendezvous. Rosalinde, fully versed in the plan and disguised as a Hungarian countess, wastes no time extracting her husband’s watch to use as evidence of his impropriety. Later on, a hilarious confrontation erupts as costumes are removed and identities revealed.
Oozing wit and bursting with Strauss’ signature waltzes and polkas, Die Fledermaus boasts Viennese operetta at its best. Join us for a night of farce, laughter and sensational music as our vocal and orchestral students bring this magical work to life. And you never know, you might even spot a special guest or two as past RNCM faces make a welcome return to our stage!
Johann Strauss II Die Fledermaus
Libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée
Sung in an English translation by David Parry with surtitles
Red Cast Performances: Saturday 10 December, Tuesday 13 December, Saturday 17 December
Blue Cast Performances: Monday 12 December, Thursday 15 December
Our performance on Tuesday 13 December is dedicated to Dr Joyce Kennedy – longstanding-supporter and friend of the RNCM.
Tickets:
£12.50 (Under 26s and Students)
£25 (Full)
All performances will be sung in English with surtitles
Please note this production contains some strong language that some listeners may find offensive
This production will include two intervals and will run for approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes
Red Cast
Yihui Wang Alfred
Katherine Glinka Adele
Olivia Tringham Rosalinde
Conrad Chatterton Gabriel von Eisenstein
Samuel Horton Dr Blind
Adam Jarman Dr Falke
Callum McCandless Frank
Dominic Mattos Prince Orlofsky
Anusha Bobby Ida
Blue Cast
Henry Strutt Alfred
Bonnie Callaghan Adele
Christina Orjis Rosalinde
Matthew Secombe Gabriel von Eisenstein
Dominic Morgan Dr Blind
Adam Jarman Dr Falke
Patrick Osborne Frank
Sarah Winn Prince Orlofsky
Taylor London Ida
Creative Team
David Parry conductor
Stephen Barlow director
Yannis Thavoris designer
Jake Wiltshire lighting designer
Agata Zając assistant conductor*
Kevin Thraves chorus master
Zoë Vallée choreographer
*Thursday 15th December
Strauss himself conducted the first performance of Die Fledermaus, which took place at the Theatre an der Wien on 5 April 1874
The overture of Die Fledermaus features in the cartoon Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl.
The UK premiere of Die Fledermaus was on 18 December 1876, and was sung in English, with translations and adjustments by Hamilton Clarke. The German original did not premiere in London until 1895
Details 