“Champagne” Polka from Die Fledermaus

Описание: Die Fledermaus (German: The Flittermouse or The Bat, sometimes called The Revenge of the Bat) is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée, which premiered in 1874.

The action revolves around Falke exacting revenge upon his longtime friend Eisenstein for a prank played upon Falke many years prior which left Falke stranded in the center of the town square, in a bat costume, drunk, and utterly humiliated, hence, “The Revenge of the Bat.” Falke’s intricate plan of getting back at his best friend involves a masquerade ball hosted by the eccentric Prince Orlofsky, multiple disguises for almost all the cast, and magnum bottles of champagne galore.

In a rousing finale to Act II, Prince Orlofsky makes a toast to champagne, and the company celebrates (The Champagne song: "Im Feuerstrom der Reben"/"In the fire stream of the grape". The role of Orlofsky is a trouser role, usually performed by a mezzo-soprano, sometimes by a countertenor and occasionally – an octave lower – by a tenor.

This polka should not be confused with the Champagner-Polka, Op. 211, subtitled "A musical joke", also by Johann Strauss II. Written in 1858 for his successful tour of Russia, where he performed in the summer concert season at Pavlovsk, Saint Petersburg, it was played for the first time on 12 August 1858.

“Champagne” Polka from Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II
Arr S Schultz