Fledermaus Fantasy
Judith Shatin
About this work:
Fledermaus Fantasy, expanded for solo violin plus viola, cello, contrabass and piano, was inspired by the sparkling tunes of Johann Strauss’s operetta, Die Fledermaus, and by the delightful tradition of such pieces as Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy, and by the enthusiasm of violinist Karen Murray. The story of Die Fledermaus is one of human foibles, with masquerades and mistaken identities. To make a long story short, the central couple, the von Eisenstein’s, betray each other. Rosalinde flirts with an old flame, while Gabriel attends a masked ball and attempts to seduce a delightful woman, who is actually his wife. Meanwhile, their chambermaid, Adele, is recognized by Gabriel, but she sings an aria that tells him in no uncertain terms why he is ridiculous for thinking so.
The operetta plays with the themes of masking, of social class, and of the fine line between delight and dispair. After the ball is over, there is a frothy series of misadventures that leads to the unmasking of the behavior of both Rosalinde and Gabriel and to a reconciliation between them. It also leads to a more hopeful future for Adele.
I have composed Fledermaus Fantasy around four numbers from the operetta: the introduction, the aria the Czárdás that Rosalinde sings in her disguise as an exotic Hungarian, and the tick-tock tune that accompanies Gabriel’s attempt to seduce his own wife. Fledermaus Fantasy layers a virtuosic froth, extensions, and inventions around the original melodies. Fledermaus Fantasy was commissioned by violininst Karen Murray, who toured this version throughout Japan with the Wiener Soloisten Ensemble –JS
Version: Chamber Version
Year composed: 2003
Duration: 00:19:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 6-9 players
Instrumentation: 1 Piano, ,1 Violin soloist(s), 1 Viola, 1 Cello, 1 Double bass