Fledermaus premiere: Surprising production delights Vienna!

Fledermaus premiere: Surprising production delights Vienna!

On October 4, 2025, the new production of “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss celebrated its premiere at the MusikTheater an der Wien. The director was the renowned Stefan Herheim, who presented a very special version of the classic. What is unusual is that the performance begins with an overture by Beethoven and not, as usual, with the well-known “Fledermaus” overture. This decision already suggests that Herheim is not afraid to play with the audience's expectations.

In Herheim's production, the action is set in a prison, which usually only plays a role in the third act. Another surprise: Emperor Franz Joseph appears as a frog and plays a central role. Herheim uses this figure to refer to a meta-level that addresses the fall of the Habsburg Empire. Political allusions are omnipresent in this production, from the nine-armed candlestick to the pig's head that serves as dinner.

An evening dedicated to operetta

The importance of operetta for Viennese culture is undisputed and “Die Fledermaus” made a significant contribution to the development of this genre. At its premiere in 1874, the boundaries between different forms of theater and social classes became blurred, which makes the operetta particularly exciting. The MusikTheater an der Wien is planning not only this production, but also a new production for the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss in order to further celebrate the work's connection to Vienna.

The actors in the current performance don't pull any punches. Particularly highlighted was Hulkar Sabirova in the role of Rosalinde, who impressed the audience with her performance. Thomas Blondelle as Eisenstein and David Fischer in the role of Alfred also impressed with strong performances. Jana Kurucová (Orlofsky) and Krešimir Stražanac (prison director), however, had to hold back from the high expectations.

Art meets politics

It was also noted that Dr. Falke appeared with a Hitler beard and soldiers in fascist uniforms entered the scene. Such allusions add a provocative touch to the production and challenge the audience to come to terms with the past. Herheim's stage design reflects the Theater an der Wien, while the elaborate prison in the third act captivates the audience.

The ballet was particularly effective, as it used only six dancers and replaced the large dance ensembles of the operetta. In this production, the singers have to work really hard to keep up with the high tempo. Conductor Petr Popelka and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra offered a breathtaking tempo that gave the evening additional momentum. The end of the premiere was rewarded with frenetic applause, but not without boos for the director - a reaction that is entirely in keeping with the theater's tradition.

The operetta “Die Fledermaus” remains a popular work, especially in her hometown of Vienna. With this new production, Herheim intervenes in the long tradition of Viennese operetta, which had its origins in the 19th century and has been an integral part of Vienna's cultural identity ever since. Considering how many important composers have been inspired by the Viennese operetta, the fascination with this genre remains unbroken, as have the numerous variations that have been performed over the past centuries.

The production of “Die Fledermaus” shows that interest in operetta and classical theater can be rekindled, even if the boundaries between joy and serious topics are sometimes blurred. Who knows, maybe this is the beginning of a new era for the MusikTheater an der Wien.

For more information about the production and upcoming performances, visit the website Vienna tourism and learn more about the history of operetta History Wiki Vienna.

For detailed coverage of the premiere, take a look Online marker.