Die Fledermaus.

6 Dec 2005-1 Jan 2006. Johann Strausss quintessential Viennese operetta Die Fledermaus is the Volksoperas festive season offering this year. First performed in Vienna in 1874, the work is based on the play Le Rveillon by Henri Meilhac and Ludovico Halvy. Set in Vienna in the latter part of the 19th century, the story revolves around the escapades of Gabriel von Eisenstein and his wife Rosalind. Eisenstein is off to spend a bit of time behind bars, escorted by his friend Dr Falke, who suggests they stop off at Russian Prince Orlovskys party en route to the jail. Falke is actually looking for ways to get his own back on Eisenstein for having once tricked him into walking through town in broad daylight in a bat (fledermaus) costume. Meanwhile Rosalind is enjoying the attentions of a flirtatious Italian, who is subsequently mistaken for her husband and marched off to prison by Frank, the prison warder. Much farcical chicanery and intrigue ensues, with Adele, Rosalinds ambitious chambermaid, playing a decisive role. Somehow everything turns out well in the end and the wise words of the operettas motto Happy are they who forget what cant be changed still ring true. Sung in German with English sur-titles. Admission 70-1.50. 6, 15, 22 and 31 Dec at 19.00, 1 Jan at 18.00, 31 Dec matinee at 13.30.