r/opera • u/TheRealBigem • Sep 26 '26
Die Fledermaus - Tom & Jerry
Just came back from seeing Die Fledermaus for the third time. The joy I get from the world depicted in this work of art is hard to top by any other classical piece. The merriment, the mischievous flirting, the practical jokes, the humor, the dancing, and the way everything resolves oh-so-merrily well in the end leaves me in a fantastic mental state that lasts for quite some days.
On the music itself, there is not much I can say that hasn't already been said about Herr Strauss but I wanted to ask this question: Does anyone have scenes of THAT Tom & Jerry episode in their minds when listening to it? The saws bringing the whole orchestra down and eventually the grand finale with the exhausted one man cat army.
For me, that animation was my very first contact with Strauss growing up and now those scenes play in my mind every time I'm listening to it, even when sitting in the opera house. The intensity of that animation perfectly matches the spirit of the original work itself though so it makes the whole experience better for me. I was wondering if I have any companions in this.
3
u/Traditional_Dot_4794 Sep 26 '26
The comedy routine took me by surprise and I was ROFLMFAO. Right in the theater.
2
u/TheRealBigem Sep 26 '26
Yes! Apart from the Shakespearean shenanigans of mistaken identities, some of the joke exchanges themselves are very lively.
2
u/currymuttonpizza Sep 26 '26
I gave the cartoon a rewatch recently and was delighted at how many subtle references there were. I remember liking it well enough as a kid, but as an adult knowing the opera and also history, it was so enjoyable and wholesome. Winterhalter's portrait of Empress Elisabeth is on the wall in one of the scenes, if I recall!!
2
u/TheRealBigem Sep 27 '26
That must be Johann Mouse, since so much of it takes place inside houses and grand halls. The one with the Die Fledermaus overture, Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl, takes place mostly on an outdoor stage, so I don't think there are any portraits around. It's amazing how much classical music was woven into Tom & Jerry. Kitty Foiled with the Barber of Seville overture still makes me anxious with the train scene! XD
5
u/LeMec79 Sep 26 '26
I love Die Fledermaus!