Die Fledermaus (Various dates)

Orlofski, complete with moustache Johann Strauss's best loved opera is a story about a big practical joke played at a grand party. Falke is going to get his own back for a previous practical joke played on him, and he arranges for various guests to gatecrash under assumed identities, and then for them to meet one another in turn, while trying to preserve their false personas. As long as you don't take the plot too seriously, and just listen to the wonderful music, it's all great fun.

The young Russian Prince Orlofski, who is the host of the festivities, is usually (but not always) sung by a (female) soprano.

The popularity of the opera is such that it is regularly performed, and there are numerous video versions of it. The first picture is a still from the 2003 Glyndebourne production, with the Swedish mezzo-soprano Malena Ernman playing Orlofski ... her speaking voice is so deep ... and that moustache.


Orlofski played by Brigitte Fassbaender The second picture is of Brigitte Fassbaender in the role, in a Bayerischer Staatsoper production from 1980.

HF November 2001 and updates


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