Following the universal success of his dance music, Austria's Waltz
King, Johann Strauss, Jr., turned his attention to operetta. Die
Fledermaus (The Bat) was one of his finest efforts. Transforming a
witty piece from the French vaudeville stage into a humorous Viennese
confection tinged with mock-sentimentality, he created a sparkling
masterpiece that premiered to instant acclaim on the Vienna stage in
1874. A New York production appeared within a few months, followed by
other successful performances around the world. To this day, the
celebrated work remains a standard of the repertoire and is frequently
produced on New Year's Eve in a special all-star gala performance by New
York's esteemed Metropolitan Opera.
This affordable volume, reproduced from an authoritative German edition,
contains the complete vocal score, including all dialogue in both the
original German and a fresh, new English translation by Stanley
Applebaum, prepared specially for this publication. It will be an
indispensable rehearsal aid for soloists, chorus members, and pianists.