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.