J. Strauss' Die Fledermaus 
Concert performace (in English) Presented by the Emerald City Opera and Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association

Day and Time: Thursday, Aug. 18, 7:00 pm
Where: Strings Music Pavilion

Admission: $35





Vienna, 1890s.

ACT I. At the Eisenstein apartment

Through the windows of the Eisenstein home floats the  serenade of Alfred, a tenor still in love with his old flame Rosalinde, Gabriel von Eisenstein’s wife. Eisenstein has been sentenced to eight days in prison for insulting an official, partially due to the incompetence of his attorney, Dr. Blind. Eisenstein’s maid, Adele, receives a letter from her sister, inviting her to Prince Orlofsky’s ball. She pretends her aunt is ill and asks for a leave of absence. Falke, Eisenstein’s friend, invites him to the ball, and Eisenstein bids farewell to Adele and Rosalinde, pretending he’s going to prison. Rosalinde is then visited by her lover, Alfred, who serenades her. Frank, the governor of the prison, arrives to take Eisenstein to jail, and instead finds Alfred and takes him to jail, thinking he is Eisenstein. (Finale, drinking song: “Happy is he who forgets” followed by Rosalinde’s defense: “In tête-à-tête with me so late,” and Frank’s invitation: “My beautiful, large bird-cage.”)

Act 2 – Masquerade Ball at the Villa Orlofsky

With Prince Orlofsky’s permission, Falke is orchestrating the ball to get revenge on Eisenstein.  The previous winter, Eisenstein had abandoned a drunken Falke dressed as a bat in the center of town, exposing him to ridicule. Falke has invited Frank, Adele and Rosalinde to the ball. Rosalinde pretends to be a Hungarian countess, Eisenstein goes by the name “Marquis Renard,” Frank is “Chevalier Chagrin,” and Adele pretends she is an actress. Eisenstein is confused  because of her striking resemblance to his maid. Falke introduces the disguised Rosalinde to Eisenstein. During an amorous tête-àtête, she succeeds in extracting a valuable watch from her husband’s pocket. Rosalinde agrees to sing a song about her “native” land, after which the guests move to a magnificent dining area. In a rousing finale, the company celebrates and the guests dance until dawn. When the clock strikes six, Eisenstein staggers off to jail.

Act 3 - The prison offices of Governor Frank

The next morning at the prison, the jailer, Frosch, has become gloriously drunk. He tries to keep order among the inmates, who are unable to sleep because of Alfred’s singing. Frank arrives, still giddy with champagne, followed shortly by Ida and Adele, who, thinking him a theatrical agent, believes he might further her stage aspirations. Frosch locks up Adele and her sister and admits Eisenstein. The new prisoner is surprised that his cell is already occupied by an imposter who was found supping with Rosalinde. To obtain an explanation, Eisenstein snatches a legal robe and wig from his astonished lawyer. No sooner is he disguised than Rosalinde hurries in to secure Alfred’s release and press divorce charges against her errant husband. With her would-be paramour, she confides her flirtation to the “lawyer.” Enraged, Eisenstein removes his disguise and accuses his wife of promiscuity, at which Rosalinde whips forth the watch she took from

him at the ball. The height of tumult arrives when Falke appears with guests from the ball and declares the whole thing an act of vengeance for the “Fledermaus.” They sing a final toast as

Eisenstein is led away to jail.