Johann Strauss the Younger’s popular operetta Die Fledermaus will be opening at Zagreb’s Croatian National Theatre on December 29. First performed in Vienna nearly 150 years ago, this genre-defining, three-act comic operetta was last seen in the Croatian capital in 2010.
Over the course of just six years after its Vienna debut, the operetta had been staged in more than 170 German-speaking theatres. Gustav Mahler declared it the best of its kind, while it was also praised by Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms, Leonard Bernstein and many others.
Sung by Vladan Švacov, conducted by Srba Dinić and directed by Krešimir Dolenčić, the upcoming Zagreb production runs over six nights. Tickets are already sold out for the New Year’s Eve show.
Also appearing at the Croatian National Theatre, recently in the news for its transformative sponsorship deal with the M+ Group, will be performers from the opera ensemble and young guest singers, who will bring fresh energy to the stage of this national landmark. The production will be performed in Croatian, with English and German surtitles.
Die Fledermaus, Croatian National Theatre, Trg Republike Hrvatske 15 (+385 1 488 8488, hnk.hr/en). Dec 29 & 31, Jan 1, 3, 7, 9 & 11 at 7.30pm, Saturday performances at 6pm. Croatian-language ticket link through the theatre's Facebook page.