Opera Kitchener presents "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss Jr.

Sunday January 3^rd, 2010 ’Äì 3:00pm

OPERA KITCHENER flies into the New Year on the wings of a BAT

Revenge and romance, intrigue and infidelity all bubble forth in Johann Strauss’Äô effervescent operetta ’ÄúDie Fledermaus’Äù (’ÄúThe Bat’Äù) ~ Renowned for it’Äôs sparkling music and the composer’Äôs signature waltzes that slowly accelerate to heart-palpitating speeds, this operetta includes such famously frothy and recognizable tunes as ’ÄúThe Champagne Waltz’Äù , ’ÄúAdele’Äôs Laughing Aria’Äù, and ’ÄúThe Czardas’Äù. Prepare yourself for an intoxicatingly exuberant afternoon filled with mirth and music!

In the European tradition, this fully staged performance will be sung in German, with English Surtitles and Dialogue in English. It will be accompanied by orchestra conducted by Maestro Geoffrey Butler.

Furthermore keeping with this operetta’Äôs tradition, there will be a Special Guest Performer to arrive as ’Äúentertainment’Äù in the ball within the opera; this performer is none other than renowned Canadian Baritone, Russell Braun! Don’Äôt miss the opportunity to experience this internationally acclaimed singer! Tickets to this marvelous performance would certainly make an incredible Christmas gift!

The operetta opens with the incorrigible Eisenstein, on the eve he is to be lead to jail for a minor misdemeanor sentence, decides he would rather dally with ladies other than his wife at a ball given by Prince Orlofsky. His supposed friend, Dr.Falke (who has a vengeful agenda of his own) persuades Eisenstein that he can hand himself over to the authorities after the party. Eisenstein’Äôs wife, Rosalinda, bids him a tearful farewell whilst trying to entertain her former sweetheart Alfred who has arrived to serenade her. A prison guard arrives to escort Eisenstein to jail, whom he unwittingly presumes is Alfred, and leads the innocent hapless lover to prison. Amongst all the confusion, the chambermaid Adele decides that she is also worthy of a ball and decides to steal one of her mistress’Äô dresses in order to disguise herself and attend the event of the season. It is within this whirlwind of mixed identities and intrigue that Rosalinda receives an invitation (inconspicuously from Dr.Falke) stating that if she would like to witness her husband’Äôs true nature to attend the Prince’Äôs ball in disguise’Ķ’Ķ whom will trick whom when all of them collide in one ballroom?!

Premiering an all-Canadian cast, this period production features the vocal talents of Rachel Huys as the regal Rosalinda, Stefan Fehr in the role of the unfaithful Eisenstein, Anna Bateman as the uncompromising maid Adele, Douglas Tranquada as the vengeful Dr.Falke, and William Lewans, Louisa Cowie and Shane Glabb as Frank, Prince Orlofsky and Alfred respectively. A special guest star appearance in the role of Frosch will be by Robert Latimer-Cornell.

Start your New Year off on a High Note with OPERA KITCHENER! ’ÄúDie Fledermaus’Äù by Johann Strauss will be for only one Matinee only ~ Sunday January 3^rd 2010 at 3pm. Call the Humanities Box Office at 519.888.4908 and book your tickets today!

OPERA KITCHENER is owned and operated by husband and wife team Emilio and Jennifer Fina. Their mandate is to present traditional, fully-staged professional operatic productions on a yearly basis, to provide the experience only opera can bestow to the public with affordable ticket prices and to employ the talents of resident musicians and artists of the community.

OPERA KITCHENER’Äôs ’ÄúDIE FLEDERMAUS’Äù ’Äì an opera by Johann Stauss Jr ’Äì

Sunday January 3^rd, 2009 at 3:00pm

Humanities Theatre, University of Waterloo

200 University Avenue West, Waterloo Ontario

Fully staged with sets, costumes, orchestra, chorus and soloists

Sung in German with English Surtitles

For Tickets call the Humanities Theatre Box Office at 519.888.4908

Visit us at www.operakitchener.com for more information on this performance or our 2009/2010 season.