Alle maskiert (aus "Eine Nacht in Venedig")

Johann Strauss's (1825-1899) ninth operetta Eine Nacht in Venedig (A Night in Venice) premiered 1883 in Berlin. Although the score gained high acclaim, the press criticized the original libretto as silly. Strauss made several alterations to the work and scored a huge triumph with the Viennese premiere, one month later, where it ran for 44 performances at the Theater an der Wien. The quartet 'Alle maskiert' is sung in the 1st act of the operetta by Annina, Ciboletta, Caramello and Pappacoda: Annina is determined to be back within the hour so that she may join in the Carnival dancing with Caramello, Pappacoda and Ciboletta in masks borrowed from their masters.