Fledermaus – Irish National Opera – Review

Johann Strauss – Fledermaus
February 2025 – Nationwide Tour – Tour Dates below

Photos by – Ros Kavanagh

This, Operas Ireland’s first production of 2025, is a touring production that will travel throughout Ireland during February 2025. Aficionados will immediately notice that this is “Fledermaus” and not “Die Fledermaus” as in the traditional title of Strauss’s operetta, which has been a much-loved part of the operatic repertoire since it was premiered in Vienna in 1874.

An innovative and imaginative production, it is sung in English in a new arrangement by Conductor/Arranger Richard Pierson, with English surtitles so no one can claim they don’t know what is happening.  It has been reset from fin de siècle Vienna to the interwar era, with shades of Art Deco, the Roaring Twenties, flappers and Weimar Germany which admirably suit the subject matter. The costumes are rich and colourful and enhance the sense of bohemian decadence.

The story revolves around the mischievous schemes of Dr. Falke, who plans to take revenge on his friend, Gabriel von Eisenstein, for a previous joke where Dr. Falke was left on the street in a bat costume (hence the name Fledermaus or Bat). Eisenstein is supposed to go to jail for a brief sentence, but he decides to attend Prince Orlofsky’s ball first. Meanwhile, his wife Rosalinde, disguised as a masked Hungarian countess, attends the same ball to catch her flirtatious husband in the act. Adele, their maid, also attends the ball in disguise, pretending to be a chorus girl. Add music and free-flowing champagne and what could possibly go wrong?

Strauss’s music has been expertly adapted for a tight orchestra of 9 performers who sit on a dais at the rear of the stage with the conductor, Richard Pierson occasionally humorously interacting with the cast. From the familiar strains of the overture at the start, it is clear that nothing has been sacrificed musically. There is a delightful moment in the second act where the conductor moves to the front of the stage to conduct the cast in full choir mode. The staging is colourful and flexible as befits a touring production with all cast involved in tight scene changes as it progresses.

This production of Fledermaus features outstanding Irish vocal talent with sopranos Jade Phoenix as Rosalinde and Sarah Shine as her maid Adele, and mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty as Prince Orlofsky. American tenor Alex McKissick sings Eisenstein and baritone Ben McAteer is Dr Falke. The ensemble cast also includes soprano Megan O’Neill as Adele’s sister Ida, tenors Aaron O’Hare as Alfred, William Pearson as Dr. Blind and Ben Escorcio as Frosch/Jailer.

This production demands everything from its cast, glorious singing of Strauss’s wonderful score, great comic acting and energetic dancing and they rise magnificently to the challenge. It’s a fast-paced whirlwind of light, colour, comedy and farce all intermingled with the glorious music expertly delivered.

Fledermaus is directed by Davey Kelleher,  with set design by  Paul O’Mahony,  costume design by  Catherine Fay, lighting design by Sinead McKenna and choreography by Stephanie Dufresne.

Dates & Venues
Sat 1 February 7:30pm
Tralee Siamsa Tíre

Tue 4 February 7:30pm
Cork Cork Opera House

Thur 6 February 7.30pm
Kilkenny Watergate Theatre

Sat 8 February 7.30pm
Limerick Lime Tree Theatre

Tue 11 February 7.30pm
Galway Town Hall Theatre

Thur 13 February 7.30pm
Sligo Hawk’s Well Theatre

Sat 15 February 7.30pm
Letterkenny An Grianán

Tue 18 February 7.30pm
Navan Solstice Arts Centre

Thur 20 February 7.30pm
Dundalk An Táin Arts Centre

Sat 22 February 7.30pm
Dún Laoghaire Pavilion Theatre

Sun 23 February 5pm
Dún Laoghaire Pavilion Theatre

Cast
Jade Phoenix – Rosalinde
Sarah Shine – Adele
Alex McKissick – Gabriel von Eisenstein
Aaron O’Hare – Alfred
William Pearson – Dr Blind
Ben McAteer – Dr Falke
Sharon Carty – Prince Orlofsky
Megan O’Neill – Ida
Seán Boylan – Frank
Ben Escorcio – Frosch / Ensemble
Leanne Fitzgerald – Ensemble
Sarah Kilcoyne – Ensemble
David Kennedy – Ensemble

Creative Team
Richard Peirson – Conductor
Davey Kelleher – Director
Richard Peirson – Arranger
Paul O’Mahony – Set Design
Catherine Fay – Costume Design
Sinead McKenna – Lighting Design
Stephanie Dufresne – Movement Director
Richard Peirson – Répétiteur
Grace Morgan – Assistant Director
Ronan Duffy – Assistant Set Designer