Die Fledermaus of December 1986 Is April 13, 2024, Met Saturday Airing

Summary: The New Year's Eve 1986 telecast of Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus airs April 13, 2024, as 19th of the 2023-2024 season's 27 Saturday radio matinees.

New Zealand Māori-Irish operatic lyric soprano Kiri Te Kanawa added the role of Rosalinde to her Met Opera portfolio in the 1986-1987 season's new production of Richard Strauss's Die Fledermaus; portrait of Kiri Te Kanawa in 1977, approximately three years after her Saturday, Feb. 9, 1974, Met Opera debut and approximately nine years before her appearances as the 1987-1987 Met Opera season's Rosalinde: New Zealand: History & Natural History, via Facebook Jan. 28, 2020

Met Opera's New Year's Eve 1986 telecast of Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus airs April 13, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time as the 19th of 27 Saturday radio matinees in the 2023-2024 season and celebrates the opera's 150th anniversary.

Die Fledermaus ("The Flittermouse" or "The Bat") by Austrian light music composer Johann Strauss II (Oct. 25, 1825-June 3, 1899) received 13 performances in Met Opera's 1986-1987 season. The first eight performances were given in December 1986, and the last five were offered in January 1987. The December performances took place Thursday, Dec. 4; Monday, Dec. 8; Friday, Dec. 12; Tuesday, Dec. 16; Saturday, Dec. 20; Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24; Saturday, Dec. 27; and New Year's Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31. The ninth through 13th, closing performances occurred on Saturday, Jan. 3; Tuesday, Jan. 6; Friday, Jan. 9; Wednesday, Jan. 14; and Saturday, Jan. 17.

Jeffrey Tate (Sir Jeffrey Philip Tate, knighted in 2017 New Year's Honours; April 28, 1943-June 2, 2017) conducted all 13 performances. The English conductor had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Dec. 26, 1980, in the opera company's 11th performance of Lulu by Austrian composer Alban Berg (Feb. 9, 1885-Dec. 24, 1935).

Kiri Te Kanawa (Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa, elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1982 Queen's Birthday Honours; born March 6, 1944) appeared in the first through eighth, 10th, 11th and 13th, closing performances as Rosalinde, whose disguise attracts her unknowing husband, Eisenstein, in a costume ball organized in light-hearted revenge by Doctor Falke. The New Zealand Māori-Irish operatic lyric soprano had made her Met Opera debut Saturday, Feb. 9, 1974, as Desdemona in the opera company's 213th performance of Otello by 19th-century Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Håkan Hagegård appeared in the first through ninth and 13th, closing performances as Eisenstein, whose abandonment of his friend, bat-costumed Doctor Falke, occasions a costume ball of comically confusing foolish flirtations and mistaken identities. The Swedish operatic baritone had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Dec. 7, 1978, as Dr. Malatesta in the opera company's 83rd performance of Don Pasquale by Italian composer Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848).

Judith Blegen in the first through eighth, 10th and 13th, closing performances as Adele, Rosalinde's maid and Doctor Falke's co-conspirator. The American lyric coloratura soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Jan. 19, 1970, as Papagena in the opera company's 179th performance of Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Tatiana Troyanos (Sep. 12, 1938-Aug. 21, 1993) (Prince Orlofsky). The American mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Monday, March 8, 1976, in the trouser role of Octavian in the opera company's 253rd performance of Der Rosenkavalier by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sep. 8, 1949).

David Rendall (born Oct. 11, 1948) appeared in the first through eighth and 13th, closing performances as Alfred, singing teacher and Rosalinde's former lover. The English operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Feb. 28, 1980, as Ernesto in the opera company's 106th performance of Donizetti's Don Pasquale.

Michael Devlin appeared in all 13 performances as Doctor Falke, whose ridiculing in a bat costume inspires his light-hearted revenge-inspired costume ball. The American bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Nov. 23, 1978, as Escamillo in the opera company's 757th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

The Metropolitan Opera's presentation of Die Fledermaus in the 1986-1987 season introduced new staging of Strauss's bat-themed opera under the directorship of Otto Schenk (born June 12, 1930). The new production debuted Thursday, Dec. 4, 1986, in the opera company's 119th performance of Die Fledermaus. The Austrian opera and theater director had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Oct. 4, 1968, in the opera company's 490th performance of Tosca by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Otto Schenk's production team comprised Günther Schneider-Siemssen, set designer; Peter J. Hall, costume designer; Gil Wechsler, lighting designer; and David Birkmeyer, choreographer. German-born Austrian scenic designer Günther Schneider-Siemssen had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Nov. 21, 1967, in the opera company's 400th performance of Die Walküre by 19th-century German composer and librettist Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883). British-born American costumer Peter John Hall (Jan. 22, 1926-May 27, 2010) had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, March 25, 1972, in the Saturday, March 25, 1972, debut of Franco Zeffirelli's new production of Verdi's Otello, which occurred in the opera company's 184th performance of Verdi's second Shakespearean opera. American lighting designer Gil Wechsler (Feb. 5, 1942-July 9, 2021) had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Jan. 18, 1977, in the opera company's 74th performance of Le Prophète by German Jewish opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer (Sep. 5, 1791-May 2, 1864). David Birkmeyer made his choreographic debut in the new production.

As of the 2023-2024 season, Otto Schenk's production of Strauss's Die Fledermaus has experienced 11 revivals. The first four revivals were held successively in seasons 1987-1988, 1988-1989, 1989-1990 and 1990-1991. The fifth and sixth revivals took place successively in seasons 1994-1995 and 1995-1996. The seventh revival occurred in the 1998-1999 season. The eighth revival was held in the 2002-2003 season. After skipping two seasons, Schenk's production returned in the 2005-2006 for its ninth revival. After a seven-season hiatus (seasons 2006-2007 through 2012-2013), Schenk's production received its 10th revival in the 2013-2014 season. The 11th revival took place in the 2015-2016 season.

The April 13, 2024, Saturday matinee broadcast plays the New Year's Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1986, telecast of Schenk's new production. Kirk Browning (March 28, 1921-Feb. 10, 2008) served as TV director. The Metropolitan Opera Archives (MetOpera Database) credits the opera company's Tuesday, March 15, 1977, performance of Puccini's La Bohème as the first telecast directed by the American television director and producer. His telecast directorship of Schenk's new Fledermaus production numbered as the 24th of 25 telecast dates credited to him in Met Opera's archives.

Puccini's La Rondine airs April 20 at 1:00 p.m. as the 20th of the 2023-2024 season's lineup of 27 Saturday radio matinees. The 2023-2024 season's performances of La Rondine mark the second revival of Nicolas Joël's 2008-2009 season-debuting new production.

Jeffrey Tate conducted all 13 performances of Otto Schenk's new production of Richard Strauss's Die Fledermaus in Met Opera's 1986-1987 season; ca. 1980-1990 image of "Jeffrey Tate, conductor/composer (a rising star)" by Polish-born American photographer Bernard Gotfryd (Photo agency: Woodfin Camp & Associates, 415 Madison Avenue, New York), Bernard Gotfryd photograph collection (Gotfryd set no.: G-161-008-A.), Library of Congress, Washington DC: No known restrictions on publication, via Library of Congress

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

New Zealand Māori-Irish operatic lyric soprano Kiri Te Kanawa added the role of Rosalinde to her Met Opera portfolio in the 1986-1987 season's new production of Richard Strauss's Die Fledermaus; portrait of Kiri Te Kanawa in 1977, approximately three years after her Saturday, Feb. 9, 1974, Met Opera debut and approximately nine years before her appearances as the 1987-1987 Met Opera season's Rosalinde: New Zealand: History & Natural History, via Facebook Jan. 28, 2020, @ https://www.facebook.com/267744546741095/posts/portrait-of-kiri-te-kanawa-in-modernised-traditional-maori-attire-taken-for-mobi/1408757149306490/

ca. 1980-1990 image of "Jeffrey Tate, conductor/composer (a rising star)" by Polish-born American photographer Bernard Gotfryd (Photo agency: Woodfin Camp & Associates, 415 Madison Avenue, New York), Bernard Gotfryd photograph collection (Gotfryd set no.: G-161-008-A.), Library of Congress, Washington DC: No known restrictions on publication, via Library of Congress @ https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2020733744/; Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jeffrey_Tate,_conductor_-_composer_(a_rising_star).jpg

For further information:

"Debut: David Birkmeyer." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 286720 New Production Die Fledermaus Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, December 4, 1986. Debut: David Birkmeyer. In German & English. Die Fledermaus (119) Johann Strauss II / Karl Haffner / Richard Genée.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0378801

"Debut: Domenico Trimarchi, David Rendall." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 260660 Don Pasquale Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, February 28, 1980. Debut: Domenico Trimarchi, David Rendall. Don Pasquale (106) Gaetano Donizetti / Giovanni Ruffini.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0377081

"Debut: Edith Mathis, Judith Blegen, Ivanka Myhal." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 220210 Die Zauberflöte Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, January 19, 1970. Debut: Edith Mathis, Judith Blegen, Ivanka Myhal. Die Zauberflöte (179) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / Emanuel Schikaneder.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0374223

"Debut: Herbert Von Karajan, Gundula Janowitz, Karl Ridderbusch, Phyllis Brill, Rosalind Hupp, Barbro Ericson, Gwendolyn Killebrew, Günther Schneider-Siemssen, George Wakhevitch." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 212640 New Production Die Walküre Metropolitan Opera House, Tue, November 21, 1967. Debut: Herbert Von Karajan, Gundula Janowitz, Karl Ridderbusch, Phyllis Brill, Rosalind Hupp, Barbro Ericson, Gwendolyn Killebrew, Günther Schneider-Siemssen, George Wakhevitch. Die Walküre (400) Richard Wagner / Richard Wagner.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0373696

"Debut: Jeffrey Tate." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 263130 Lulu Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, December 26, 1980. Debut: Jeffrey Tate. Lulu (11) Alban Berg / Alban Berg.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0377205

"Debut: Kiri Te Kanawa." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 236470 Otello Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, February 9, 1974 Matinee Broadcast Broadcast Matinee Broadcast. Debut: Kiri Te Kanawa. Otello (213) Giuseppe Verdi / Arrigo Boito.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0375456

"Debut: Michael Devlin." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 255670 Carmen Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, November 23, 1978. Debut: Michael Devlin. Carmen (757) Georges Bize / Henri Meilhac/Ludovic Halévy.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0376714

"Debut: Otto Schenk." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 216180 New Production Tosca Metropolitan Opera House, Fri, October 4, 1968. Debut: Otto Schenk. Tosca (490) Giacomo Puccini / Luigi Illica / Giuseppe Giacosa.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0373935

"Debut: Otto Schenk." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 216180 New production Tosca {490} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/4/1968.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=216180

"Debut: Peter J. Hall." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 228890 New Production Otello Metropolitan Opera House, Sat, March 25, 1972. Debut: Peter J. Hall. Otello (184) Giuseppe Verdi / Arrigo Boito.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0374884

"Debut: Peter J. Hall." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 228890 New Production Otello {184} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/25/1972. (Debut: Peter J. Hall Review). Metropolitan Opera House. March 25, 1972. Benefit sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera Guild for the production funds. New Production.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=228890

"Debut: Raimund Herincx, Gil Wechsler, Stuart Sebastian." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 248030 New production Le Prophète {74} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/18/1977.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=248030

"Debut: Raimund Herincx, Stuart Sebastian, Gil Wechsler." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 248030 New Production Le Prophète Metropolitan Opera House, Tue, January 18, 1977. Debut: Raimund Herincx, Stuart Sebastian, Gil Wechsler. Le Prophète (74) Giacomo Meyerbeer / Eugène Scribe.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0376243

"Debut: Tatiana Troyanos, Kendall Quinn." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 244480 Der Rosenkavalier Metropolitan Opera House, Mon, March 8, 1976. Debut: Tatiana Troyanos, Kendall Quinn. Der Rosenkavalier (253) Richard Strauss / Hugo von Hofmannsthal.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0376039

"Debuts: Gundula Janowitz, Karl Ridderbusch, Phyllis Brill, Rosalind Hupp, Barbro Ericson, Gwendolyn Killebrew, Herbert Von Karajan, Günther Schneider-Siemssen, George Wakhevitch." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 212640 New production Die Walküre {400} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/21/1967.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=212640

Kozinn, Alan. "Tatiana Troyanos Is Dead at 54; Mezzo Star of Diverse Repertory." The New York Times > Obituaries. Aug. 23, 1993.
Available @ https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/23/obituaries/tatiana-troyanos-is-dead-at-54-mezzo-star-of-diverse-repertory.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera Calendars 2023-2024 Season Operas Sep. 26 Through June 8." Earth and Space News. Monday, Sep. 18, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/met-opera-calendars-2023-2024-season.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera Newly Stages Carmen and La Forza del Destino in 2023-2024." Earth and Space News. Monday, Sep. 11, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/met-opera-newly-stages-carmen-and-la.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera's First New Year's Eve Fledermaus Performance Was in 1950." Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 26, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/12/met-operas-first-new-years-eve.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "The Metropolitan Opera Performs 18 Operas in the 2023-2024 Season." Earth and Space News. Monday, Aug. 21, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-metropolitan-opera-performs-18.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Metropolitan Opera Revives 12 Productions in 2023-2024 Season." Earth and Space News. Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/metropolitan-opera-revives-12.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Saturday Matinee Broadcasts Include Six Special Programs in 2023-2024." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/saturday-matinee-broadcasts-include-six.html

"New Production: Die Fledermaus." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 286720 New Production Die Fledermaus Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, December 4, 1986. Debut: David Birkmeyer. In German & English. Die Fledermaus (119) Johann Strauss II / Karl Haffner / Richard Genée.
Available @ https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/record.jsp?dockey=0378801

New Zealand: History & Natural History. "Added a new photo to the album: Recreation & Entertainment -- Album 4 of 4. Portrait of Kiri Te Kanawa in (modernised) traditional Maori attire, taken for Mobil Oil New Zealand Ltd by K E Niven and Co, commercial photographers of Wellington, 1977. Dame Kiri Jeanette Claire Te Kanawa, opera singer (soprano), was born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron on 6 March 1944 in Gisborne, New Zealand. She was active between 1968–2017. Credit: Alexander Turnbull Library/National Library of New Zealand, ref: PA12-3638-F." Facebook. Jan. 28, 2020.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/267744546741095/posts/portrait-of-kiri-te-kanawa-in-modernised-traditional-maori-attire-taken-for-mobi/1408757149306490/