Die Fledermaus, The Flittermouse: Character Map
Die Fledermaus, The Flittermouse: Roles
| Gabriel von Eisenstein | tenor/baritone | |
| Rosalinde | Eisenstein’s wife | soprano |
| Adele | Rosalinde’s maid | soprano |
| Dr Falke | a notary | baritone |
| Prince Orlofsky | a Russian prince | mezzo-soprano |
| Alfred | a singer-teacher | tenor |
| Frank | a prison governor | baritone |
| Dr Blind | a lawyer | tenor |
| Ida | Adele’s sister | soprano |
- Native title: Die Fledermaus
- Composers: Johann Strauss II
- Librettist: Karl Haffner, Richard Genée
- Based on: Le Réveillon, a French vaudeville play by Henri Maillac and Ludovic Halévy
- Language: German
- Premiere: April 5, 1874, Theater an der Wien
- Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes (Act 1: 50 minutes, Act 2: 60 minutes, Act 3: 40 minutes)
Die Fledermaus, The Flittermouse: Short Synopsis
Falke was nicknamed “Dr. Bat” after a prank by Eisenstein three years ago and was preparing to get back at him.
New Year’s Eve. Eisenstein was preparing to go to jail. He was intrigued by Falke and decided to attend Orlofsky’s party before going to jail. He pretends to be French and enjoys the party. At the party, Adele, a maid pretending to be an actress, and Rosalinde, his masked wife, appear. Eisenstein seduces her, unaware that she is his wife. Rosalinde takes a watch from her husband as proof of an affair. Eisenstein leaves the party halfway through to go to jail.
On New Year’s morning, he goes to the prison and finds a different Eisenstein already in jail. He suspects his wife of cheating on him, but on the contrary, she accuses him of cheating on her last night. Falke reveals that it was payback for a prank three years ago. People blame the champagne for this event and don’t care.