From the creative talent that brought us The Lion King comes Mozart‘s The Magic Flute – a fantastical theatrical adventure for audiences of all ages and levels of opera experience. With all its spectacle, action and humour, this is the perfect opera for those wanting to dip their toe into operatic waters for the first time. But hurry, the production only runs until 16 January!
Director Julie Taymor’s wildly imaginative production returns in 2016 after hugely successful seasons in 2015, featuring whimsical stylised costumes and huge puppetry in a jawdropping show to entertain the child in us all.
From the moment our hero, Tamino, leaps on stage with a snake in pursuit, the show is a fast paced adventure with mystery and challenges to overcome. With startling costumes, sprightly stilt walkers, giant puppets and a modern English translation, the production literally brings a new dimension to Mozart’s much-loved masterpiece.
In 2002, in the wake of the massive success of the award-winning Broadway musical The Lion King, New York’s Metropolitan Opera approached Julie Taymor with a challenge to create a new vision for Mozart’s final work for theatre, to premiere in their 2006 summer season. Taymor took Mozart’s music and, using an idiomatic English translation by American poet JD McClatchy, designs by George Tsypin and her trademark skills in visual art, puppetry, mime and dance, fashioned a 100 minute show designed to appeal to audiences of all ages!
Artistic Director of Opera Australia, Lyndon Terracini says “I love this production by Julie Taymor and audiences do too as they keep coming to see it. I saw Rory McDonald conduct The Magic Flute in Copenhagen and I was so impressed I engaged him to conduct our 2016 production. It has a terrific cast. It’s so exciting when you’ve got someone like Hannah Dahlenberg knocking out those high Fs in the Queen of the Night arias and Daniel Sumegi has the wonderful low notes so evident in our recent production of Don Carlos – hell make an imposing Sarastro.”
About the opera
The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) is a real puzzle – part opera, part play, part fairy tale. Written in Mozart’s final year, and premiering just two months before his death, the opera was an instant success, and a great source of pride to the composer. The story was written by librettist and impresario Emanuel Schikaneder, who performed Papageno, with Mozart’s sister-in-law Josepha Hofer performing the Queen of the Night.
The allegorical story is full of references to Freemasonry (both Schikaneder and Mozart were members), and the power of truth and knowledge over superstition. Prince Tamino is lost in a strange land when three ladies ask him to rescue a beautiful young girl, Pamina, with the help of a magic flute. He agrees, but the ladies and their ruler, the Queen of the Night, soon reveal they are not as trustworthy as he first thought. To add to the confusion, the wily bird-catcher Papageno, somehow manages to be both a help and hindrance…
The Magic Flute plays at Sydney Opera House from 30 December 2015 to 16 January 2016.
Performance information
Evenings at 7.30pm: January 7, 9, 12, 14
Saturday matinees at 1pm: January 2, 9, 16
Thursday matinee at 11am: January 7
Running time: two hours with one twenty minute interval.
Performed in English with surtitles.
Bookings
Tickets from $49 (fees may apply)
Opera Australia Box Office (02) 9318 8200 www.opera.org.au
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
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