SSO’s fresh take on Die Fledermaus operetta

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s (SSO) occasional foray into the world of opera is an interesting move, given that there has been no predominant opera company in the nation since the Singapore Lyric Opera’s (SLO) halcyon years of the late 1990s.

- Chang Tou Liang

Government funding for opera is now shared by multiple opera companies, while other players like Orchestra of the Music Makers Singapore have been taking on major opera productions such as Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle. Thus, it was refreshing to encounter Johann Strauss the Younger’s best-loved operetta Die Fledermaus (The Bat) produced by a local organisation which is neither SLO nor New Opera Singapore.

This world premiere of an abridged 90-minute chamber version by Ronald Kornfeil, arranged by Thomas Barthel in a semi-staged production, had much to recommend.

First, a considerably pared-down SSO led by violinist Wang Xiaoming performed on stage behind the singers, lending a striking immediacy to the performance and the benefit of not playing in a pit.