The harmonies in this opera are so divine. Mozart's work is impeccable. So basically, if I am getting this right this opera is partly what led to the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette ignorantly pushed her husband the king to stage this opera.  It is filled with disguised dissent that is clever and for the most part defied the censor of the day.

This is my favorite line of our lead Figaro from the 5th scene second act and the revolutionary centerpiece of the play: (and was ommitted by Mozart)  

​Figaro: "If only one could speak equally well of politics! But feigning ignorance of what you know, and pretending to know what you do not; pretending to understand what mystifies you, and not to hear what you do grasp, pretending to be able to do what you cannot, and that you are guarding a secret which does not really exist, locking yourself in a room merely to sharpen quills, and appearing deep when you are not; sounding impressive like an empty vessel when it is struck. Always pretending, for good or ill, engaging spies and rewarding traitors, breaking seals, intercepting letters, and always being ready to dignify the happiness of the means employed by pointing out the importance of the objective? That's the whole of politics, I'll stake my life on it!"

Well said yes?  And even better sung.  Please go listen to this opera.  It is so beautiful. In it you will find love conquering all.

I put the needle in the groove and began listening to the the vinyl recording of Die Fledermaus. Listening to German classical lyrics can be challenging. Johann Strauss makes it easy with amazing orchestration. This recording is from 1976 conducted by Carlos Kleiber.  He is masterful in his work with the Bavarian State Orchestra. Strauss was so ready and willing to finally put together an operetta that would be well received and also deeply imbued with meaning for his own inspiration that he shuttered himself in his home and composed it in six weeks in 1873. Because this opera has a theme that is centered on a ball and because Strauss was so accomplished in composing dance music it was a puzzle that ultimately came together exceedingly well. The stage is set for a ball of the elite upper class and shows the snooty underbelly of wealth in an entertaining light. "Happy is the one who accepts what has got to be." Enjoy!