Die Fledermaus

ACT I. In late nineteenth-century Vienna, Gabriel von Eisenstein prepares to bid his wife Rosalinda farewell; he has been sentenced to a spell in the town jail. Although the situation is seemingly tragic, Eisenstein, his wife, and their ambitious maid, Adele, have devised their individual ways to get the most out of the situation! (“To part is such sweet sorrow”—Farewell Trio). Eisenstein’s old friend Dr. Falke arrives to escort him to the jail, but suggests that the two of them go to Prince Orlovsky’s party, for a bachelor evening out, to celebrate Eisenstein's last hours of freedom, and report to jail later. Falke is planning to use the evening as revenge for the time Eisenstein fooled him into walking through the town in broad daylight wearing a bat (die Fledermaus) costume, following a riotous masquerade party. Orlovsky's party is the talk of the town—even Adele receives a letter from her sister, Ida, one of the dancers who has been invited, suggesting she borrow one of her mistress's dresses and attend herself. After Falke and Eisenstein leave, Rosalinda's lusty admirer, the operatic tenor Alfred, arrives, serenading her in typical Italian fashion, swearing his eternal love (“Drink my darling, drink to me”). When the prison governor Frank arrives at the house, he naturally assumes that the man sharing an intimate moment with Rosalinda is her husband, and takes Alfred off to jail!

ACT II. The Russian Prince Orlovsky is giving a magnificent masked ball, but he appears to be the only one not enjoying himself – everything and everyone bores him. He tells the crowd that at his parties there is only one rule – that each does according to his own taste (“Chacun a son goût”). Eisenstein, posing as the Marquis Renard, meets a glamorous actress who bears a startling resemblance to his wife's maid. It is in fact Adele, and when Eisenstein tells her of the resemblance she mocks him by telling him that such presumption makes her laugh! (“Laughing Song”) At this point a surprise guest is announced—Roselinda disguised as an exotic Hungarian Countess—who sings an evocative showpiece in yearning for her homeland (“Czardas"). The increasingly tipsy Eisenstein then engages in a lengthy flirtation with the masked guest of honor, not realizing it is his wife. Rosalinda, through clever machinations, persuades him to give her his watch, thereby securing proof positive of his philandering (“Watch Duet”). Further inspired by champagne, Eisenstein relates the story of Falke and his bat costume, much to the amusement of another fake French nobleman, M. le Chevalier Chagrin—Frank, the prison governor. In the midst of all this farcical chicanery and intrigue, Falke offers a hymn to happiness and brotherly love, joined by all the others (“Sing to love”). After waltzing, flirting and much champagne, the party breaks up at dawn.

ACT III. In the jail, the warden Frank is having trouble staying awake after such a grand evening. Adele enters and tells him that she is not really a glamorous actress, but certainly has the talent for it (“Audition aria”). She hopes that Frank can put in a good word with Eisenstein so she can keep her job. Eisenstein at last reports to the jail, and is delighted to find that his new friend is the governor, but Frank is confused—apparently there is already an Eisenstein behind bars, who is waiting for his lawyer, Dr. Blind. When the lawyer arrives, Eisenstein impersonates him and questions Rosalinda and Alfred, then reveals his identity. As he begins a self-righteous tirade as a wronged husband, Rosalinda produces his watch, proving him as great a flirt as she. Falke’s revenge is declared complete, and all of Orlovsky's party guests arrive to celebrate – praising King Champagne (“Champagne’s delicious bubbles”)!