Johann Strauss’ Eine Nacht in Venedig is a pretty slight piece.  In fact it makes Die Fledermaus look like Parsifal.  It’s set during Carnival.  There’s a visiting duke who is out to bed the last woman in Venice he hasn’t already slept with, the young wife of a doddery senator, but she’s being impersonated by her maid and her foster sister for reasons of their own while she gets off with her nephew.  The duke fails to seduce anyone.  Ash Wednesday arrives and everybody, on the surface, returns to her proper partner.  All this serves as an excuse for lots of boob and thigh flashing, some big dance numbers and lots of, by Fledermaus standards, rather dull music. Continue reading →