Die Fledermaus, act II part 2 December 31, 2006

There’s a longstanding tradition of performing Fledermaus on New Year’s Eve, and the second half of Act II is usually taken up with a “command performance” featuring guest stars.

As everyone gets plastered, Falke and Orlovsky propose a toast to brotherhood.

Falke and Orlovsky sing the toast (“Brüderlein, Brüderlein und Schwesterlein”), which seems appropriate since they’re the only ones using their real names.

The Royal Ballet corps dances the “Explosionspolka”.

Hermann Prey sings the Barinkay from The Gypsy Baron, while tap dancing, balancing his cane on his forehead and gangsta-rapping (well, one out of three isn’t bad …)

Hinge and Bracket were a British “travesty act” (a polite term for transvestites), who here perform “Three Little Maids from School” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado.

Charles Aznavour performs “She”.

Merle Park and Wayne Eagling of the Royal Ballet perform the Frühlingstimmenwaltzer (Voices Of Spring) pas de deux choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton.

Orlovsky commands the guests to dance (“Genug, damit, genug”). As Eisenstein tries to unmask the “countess”, the clock strikes six, he and Frank run off to prison – and Orlovsky laughs.

Technorati tags: Johann Strauß, Die Fledermaus, Kiri Te Kanawa, Hermann Prey, Hildegarde Heichele, Benjamin Luxon, Doris Stoffel, Ingrid Baier, Michael Langdon, Hinge and Bracket, Charles Aznavour, Merle Park, Wayne Eagling, Royal Ballet, Sir Frederick Ashton, Plácido Domingo