The Setting of Die Fledermaus
Vienna, Austria in the late 19th century
Synopsis of Die Fledermaus
ACT I – inside the parlor of Gabriel and Rosalinde von Eisenstein’s home
The impetuous tenor, Alfred, is heard serenading his old flame, Rosalinde. The chambermaid Adele
enters reading a letter from her sister Ida, a ballet dancer. The letter urges Adele to make up a story so she
can get the night off and come to the ball being held at the villa of Prince Orlofsky – a wealthy, decadent
young Russian nobleman. Adele laments her status as a chambermaid but resolves to go. She realizes
that Alfred is a secret admirer of her mistress and runs after him to see if she can discover his identity.
Rosalinde appears, amazed that Alfred has returned. When Adele returns, she asks Rosalinde if she can
get the night off by telling her mistress that her “poor old aunt” is deathly ill. However, Rosalinde refuses
to let her go, because tonight Gabriel must start a short jail term for a civil offense. Adele exits weeping.
Alfred appears and begins to woo Rosalinde. She manages to get him to leave by promising to see him
later that night after her husband has left for jail. Before she can catch her breath, Gabriel arrives, fighting
with his lawyer, Dr. Blind. Gabriel’s jail term has been extended by three days because of Dr. Blind’s
alleged incompetence. Blind promises to appeal, but Gabriel throws him out.
Gabriel’s friend, Dr. Falke, comes to visit. He persuades Gabriel to postpone reporting to jail until the
next morning and instead go to the ball at Prince Orlofsky’s palace. After Falke leaves, Rosalinde tells
Adele that she has changed her mind and that Adele may have the night off to visit her “poor sick aunt.”
Gabriel reenters and bids Rosalinde and Adele a sorrowful goodbye—but each is secretly delighted at the
turn of events.
Rosalinde, left alone, doubts the wisdom of receiving Alfred, who soon appears. He is well on the way to
removing her doubts when they hear voices in the hallway. Herr Frank, the warden of the prison where
Gabriel is to spend his jail term, arrives to personally escort “Herr von Eisenstein” to his “cozy little
prison.” Alfred starts to tell Frank that he is not Gabriel when Rosalinde takes him aside and begs him to
say that he is, to avert a scandal. Alfred agrees and leaves with Frank to take Gabriel’s place in prison.
——— INTERMISSION ———
ACT II – the ballroom of Prince Orlofsky
Everyone is having a wonderful time at the ball. Ida is surprised to see her sister Adele and denies having
written the letter telling her to come to the ball. However, since Adele is already there, Ida decides to
introduce her as an actress and gives her the stage name “Olga.” Dr. Falke enters with Prince Orlofsky,
who is lamenting his terminal boredom. Falke assures him that tonight he will laugh, as Falke has
planned a little comedy entitled The Revenge of the Bat, to amuse him. Ida introduces “Olga” to the Prince,
who gives the two girls his purse to take to the gaming room, as wagering for himself is too fatiguing.
The girls excitedly rush off to gamble.
Gabriel enters, and Dr. Falke introduces him to the Prince as the “Marquis de Renard,” a French
nobleman. Falke then takes the Prince aside and asks him to distract Gabriel while Falke writes a note
to Rosalinde informing her where her husband is and what he is doing. Orlofsky agrees and insists that
Gabriel drink with him while Orlofsky expounds his philosophy of life. Adele and Ida return from the
gaming room, having lost all their money. Gabriel is flabbergasted to see his chambermaid at the ball.
Adele is equally horrified to see her master but continues to insist that she is the actress Olga.
A new guest arrives, “the Chevalier Chagrin” – actually, the prison warden, Frank. Ida asks when dinner
will be served, and Falke replies that they are waiting for another guest, a mysterious Hungarian countess
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