Home Movies TV Series Search Sign in

Die Fledermaus

7.8 177 mins Comedy   Music   1984
Royal Opera House  
Director(s): Humphrey Burton

Most opera houses ring in the New Year with Johann Strauss Jr.'s most popular operetta--the festiveness of which is appropriate for the occasion--and this December 31, 1983, Covent Garden performance follows suit. An exceptional cast--led by Hermann Prey and Kiri Te Kanawa as the couple whose marriage survives the comic indiscretions of three long acts--obviously has as much fun as the audience. Plácido Domingo leads the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House through its paces with panache. Prince Orlofsky's Act II party is always a splendid opportunity to pull out all the stops with surprise "guests," and this performance makes the most of its chance: entering the proceedings to sing one of his tailor-made chansons, "She," is French crooner Charles Aznavour, who is followed by dancers Merle Park and Wayne Eagling, their delightful pas de deux flashily choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton.

Casts of Die Fledermaus

Kiri Te Kanawa

as Rosalinda

Hermann Prey

as Gabriel von Eisenstein

Dennis O'Neill

as Alfred

Paul Crook

as Dr. Blind

Benjamin Luxon

as Dr. Falke

Michael Langdon

as Colonel Frank

Ingrid Baier

as Ida

Doris Soffel

as Prince Orlofsky

Richard Hazell

as Ivan

Josef Meinrad

as Frosch

Patrick Fyffe

as Dame Hilda Bracket

George Logan

as Dr Evadne Hinge

Charles Aznavour

as Prince Orlofsky's Guest

Plácido Domingo

as Conductor

You might also like