Following the universal success of his dance music, Austria's "Waltz King," Johann Strauss, Jr., turned his attention to operetta. Die Fledermaus (The Bat) was one of his finest efforts. Transforming a witty piece from the French vaudeville stage into a humorous Viennese confection tinged with mock-sentimentality, he created a sparkling masterpiece that premiered to instant acclaim on the Vienna stage in 1874. A New York production appeared within a few months, followed by other successful performances around the world. To this day, the celebrated work remains a standard of the repertoire and is frequently produced on New Year's Eve in a special all-star gala performance by New York's esteemed Metropolitan Opera. This affordable volume, reproduced from an authoritative German edition, contains the complete vocal score, including all dialogue in both the original German and a fresh, new English translation by Stanley Applebaum, prepared specially for this publication. It will be an indispensable rehearsal aid for soloists, chorus members, and pianists.