The Bat

First performed in 1979 at the Opéra Theatre in Monte Carlo, The Bat is a lively and refined divertissement full of humour born from the genius of Roland Petit, whose birth centenary falls this year, and freely adapted from the famous operetta Die Fledermaus (1874) by Johann Strauss Junior, whose overwhelming musical score and effervescent spirit were well suited to the French choreographer’s idea of a show.

A two-act ballet, The Bat tells the story of an upper middle-class couple swept up in the whirling rhythms of the waltz in the lively, bubbly atmosphere of the Belle Époque: Bella is the neglected wife of the charming Johann, who transforms herself into a bat every night to fly out from the marital home and escape from everyday life. Thanks to the advice of her friend and beau Ulrich, Bella will transform herself into a femme fatale capable of sweeping her husband off his feet, clipping his wings and leading him home.

The ballet staged at the Teatro dell’Opera has the choreographic supervision of Luigi Bonino, the historic interpreter of the original version and today artistic director of the Repertorio Roland Petit, in the Wiener Staatsballett production. In the role of the seductive Bella alternate the étoile Rebecca Bianchi and the prima ballerina Federica Maine. Conducting the orchestra is Alessandro Cadario.

Photo: The Bat, Rebecca Bianchi and Michele Satriano © Yasuko Kageyama - Teatro dell'Opera di Roma 2016