Johann Strauss’ operetta Die Fledermaus (The Bat) comes to the UTC Fine Arts Center March 27-28 when the UTC Opera Workshop presents a fully-staged production with the UTC Orchestra, sung in English. Tickets are $7.00 general admission, and $5.00 Senior Citizens. Tickets are available at the UTC Box Office (423-425-4269), Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The performances will be held in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall, UTC Fine Arts Center, (corner of Palmetto and Vine St.)
The story of Die Fledermaus tells of Dr. Falke’s revenge on his best friend Baron von Eisenstein for an embarrassing practical joke, in which he was left passed out drunk overnight in the center of town dressed in a bat costume. A Russian Count, Eisenstein’s wife Rosalinda, their house maid, the maid’s ballerina sister, Rosalinda’s ex-lover, and even a jailor are all brought into an elaborate scheme set up by Falke to gain his vengeance. Deception runs amok as everyone pretends to be someone other than who they are at a fancy ball. Rosalinda, posing as a Hungarian Countess, manages to steal her husband’s pocket watch to use as evidence of his philandering with a young actress who is in reality, their house maid. Later at the jail, everyone manages to end up together again and just as Rosalinda is calling for divorce, Falke shows up to reveal his scheme and claim his revenge complete.
Johann Strauss II, known in his lifetime as “The Waltz King,” put some of his most delightful music into this operetta which he wrote nonstop over a span of forty-two nights. Its celebrated Overture quotes five of the best tunes from the score, and itself has remained a staple of the orchestral repertoire since its creation. The party scene in Act II is often interrupted with surprise guest artists and extra music. The opera ends with an exuberant toast proclaiming champagne the “King of all the wines.”
The UTC Opera Workshop is directed by UTC Assistant Professor Ronald Ulen who has earned Chattanooga recognition after appearing with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera in their last two opera productions and the Beethoven 9th Symphony. The production will be accompanied by the UTC orchestra under the direction of Maestro Jooyong Ahn.
For further information contact the UTC Music Dept. Office, 423-425-4601.
Listen to the WUTC FM 88.1 Chattanooga Around and About story about the opera workshop.
