The Bat is the first operetta which is „present time”. It means that its characters live at the time of the composition. Frivolous and idle characters of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy come to life in front of our eyes. And since it has become a tradition in Central-Eastern Europe to start and finish every year with the popular music of Johann Strauss Jr. the Budapest Opera House puts this work, also referred to as „the king of operettas” on its programme in this period.