REVENGE OF THE BAT

Let's decipher the title bat. At the beginning of the 19th century, masquerades were very popular. Two heroes of Strauss's operetta went to the masquerade ball: Eisenstein dressed as a butterfly, Falke - as a bat. The next day Falke (after drinking the right amount of champagne) woke up under a tree in the park, where he was left by the frivolous Eisenstein. He had to wander home escorted by snippets of passersby mocking the bat in broad daylight. He vowed to take revenge on the prankster. And this is where the action of Revenge of the Bat begins.

Strauss's Revenge of the Bat is considered a model operetta for its genre and contains at least two components that make it a masterpiece. First, great music: waltzes, polkas and arias, before which singers tremble, because they require a great span of voice. It is from this operetta that comes, among others, the famous “Cardasz Rozalinda”, the aria of Adela “with laughter” and the wonderful overture, which directly captivates the dance. Secondly - a witty and intriguing libretto, combining the Parisian frivolity of the literary prototype, graceful and elegant salon comedy and Viennese fleetmoment. Strauss's genius brought it together harmoniously, weaving into the second act a stage of the ball at Prince Gigi's.

Summary of libretta

ACT I:

At the house of banker Gabriel Eisenstein, Adela's maid reads a letter from her sister, dancer Ida, who invites her to a ball given by Prince Gigi. Here comes the sung Alfred, the former fiancée of the house, Rozalindy Eisenstein. Rozalinda, afraid that he will not come into contact with her husband, vows to meet him in the evening, knowing that Eisenstein will go to jail for five days for hitting a tax collector. Adela asks for time off to allegedly take care of her sick aunt. Rozalinda agrees, not wanting the maid to witness Alfred's visit.

Meanwhile, Eisenstein returns from court with patron Blind. As a result of the fatal defense, the convict was sentenced to 3 more days in prison! Sentencing is scheduled to begin in a few hours. Dr. Falke comes up with a tempting proposal: he advises that Eisenstein go to prison in the morning and spend the night at Prince Gigi's ball - naturally in secret from his wife. Rozalinda is surprised that her husband goes to prison in a tailcoat and a cylinder, but the latter reassures her with the words “although fate is black, it is a snowy forest”. Soon after his departure comes Alfred. They sit down to dinner: Rozalinda in a tempting negligee, Alfred in her husband's robe. Suddenly, with an unexpected visit comes the director of the prison, Frank. He came to personally bring Eisenstein to the cell. Alfred, a little drunk, agrees to play the roles of a husband - Frank takes him away, sure that he has arrested Eisenstein.

ACT II:

At the ball with Prince Gigi Orlovsky, elegant ladies gather, including young dancers, teethinkers... Among them, Ida and Adela (dressed in Rozalinda's dress). Dr. Falke explains to the prince how he wants revenge on Eisenstein for the carnival masquerade from a year ago. He also invited Rozalinda here, who is to come in disguise and pretend to be a Hungarian countess. The intrigue goes according to plan: Eisenstein assists Adela, not knowing that she is jumping over her own maid. He then gives interest to the mysterious mask, without getting to know - hidden under it - his own wife. Rozalinda, taking advantage of the situation, takes away a beautiful watch from her unfaithful husband.

The fun is gaining momentum, but two people have to appear in prison in the morning: Director Frank and Eisenstein, who have already managed to make cordial friends with each other.

ACT III:

There is only one prisoner in the prison: the sung Alfred. He is guarded by a drunken janitor Frosch. Director Frank arrives, followed by Ida and Adela, to whom he promised protection in the theater. Frank must hide the girls in a free cell as another prisoner comes forward - Gabriel Eisenstein. The two gentlemen, having explained who they really are, are even more astonished, for... After all, Eisenstein was taken yesterday from the tender embrace of his wife.

Eisenstein, wanting to find out who is hiding under his name, disguises himself as a court intern and, together with patron Blind, interrogates Alfred. When he wants to accuse his wife of tete-a-tete with her lover, she shows him a watch taken during prom flirts. At the end, Falke explains to everyone the intrigue arranged for revenge...