International opera for the lockdown age

From Cyprus to Singapore, Vienna to California, over 35 creatives have joined together from seven different time zones to rehearse and record an opera for the lockdown generation. With theatres shut, concerts cancelled, all creativity hanging by a thread, 2020 has been a miserable affair. But this creative wilderness sparked an idea to stage a virtual production of a popular opera.

“Theatre has always had the power to reach out and connect with people, and we were so disheartened to think there would be a year without it. We decided we had to keep this community spirit alive. We also knew that, among all the hardship, 2020 provided opportunities as well. From the safety of our homes, we could still come together and produce a trans-continental performance, uniting people from every corner of the world,” co-creator and musical director of the opera Christina Krawec commented.

Auditions were held and soon a group of artists were working on a Die Fledermaus for the 2020s. Representing Cyprus is Sarah Patsalidou as the Assistant Director of the opera. Recorded in the original German with English subtitles in bedrooms and living rooms across the world this raucous operetta is finally coming to our at-home screens this month.

“It is an absolute joy to work with singers, musicians and creatives from all across the world, and what better opera to work on than Die Fledermaus!” said director Alex Kirstukas. “This romantic comedy, where the complacent are pranked and the underfoot triumph, is the perfect distraction and it has been so rewarding to direct this dazzling and delightful show, proving that no obstacle can ever stand in the way of creativity.”

Die Fledermaus premiered in Vienna in April 1874. Originally a German farce by comic showman Roderich Benedix, it was revamped as a French comedy by the prolific duo Meilhac & Halévy, then back into German by Karl Haffner, with new lyrics by Richard Genée.

The music had a far less complicated start – an astonishing amount of it was roughed out in just six weeks – and was fresh and new. Johann Strauss II, waltz-king of Blue Danube and Vienna Woods fame, found his biggest theatrical success with Die Fledermaus, and nearly 150 years of productions worldwide have cemented its reputation at the forefront of the operetta canon.

The opera has been performed and adapted for every context from grand opera houses to television specials to silent films. Now, thanks to an international ensemble of young professionals and skilled choristers collaborating across a wide array of time zones and online platforms, it takes on its latest, pandemic-safe incarnation.

After months of online rehearsals, the time has come for this digital opera to take place. On February 27, at 7pm GMT, you can tune in on the official YouTube channel Die Fledermaus Zuhaus to watch the performance. Besides entertaining, the opera has a charitable cause as well as it aims to raise money for Sweet Relief’s Covid-19 Fund, a charity supporting musicians and music industry workers in these difficult times. Watch the trailer here.

Die Fledermaus Zu Haus

Digital opera with 35 artists across 7 different time zones. February 27. 7pm GMT. In German with English subtitles. On YouTube channel Die Fledermaus Zuhaus. diefledermauszuhaus.com