Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), K. 620

Composer: Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Librettist/Text Author: Schikaneder, Emanuel

Conductor: Muti, Riccardo

Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Chorus: Vienna State Opera Chorus

Chorus Master: Lang, Thomas

Monostasos: Ulrich, Burkhard

Pamina: Kuhmeier, Genia

Papagena: Bespalovaite, Irena

Papageno: Gerhaher, Christian

Queen of the Night: Damrau, Diana

Sarastro: Pape, Rene

Tamino: Groves, Paul

Set Designer: Appel, Karel

Costume Designer: Jorge, Jara

Lighting Designer: Kalman, Jean

Choreographer: Tanaka, Min

Stage Director: Audi, Pierre

Television Director: Large, Brian

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Date of Production: 2006

Festival: Salzburg Festival

Venue: Grosses Festspielhaus Salzburg

Playing Time: 02:56:04

Catalogue Number: A04001468

Libretto

Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), K. 620 DE

Synopsis

Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), K. 620

Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute), K. 620

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Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) is Mozart's most popular and beloved opera, and its melodies - from Papageno's folkloric tunes to the Queen of the Night's breathtaking coloraturas - are familiar even among non-listeners of classical music. In this production by Pierre Audi, however, it is the eyes and not the ears that first fall under the spell of this truly magical Magic Flute. From the illustration on the stage curtain to the incredible, wildly colored, primeval-looking monsters, animals and decorative elements on the stage, the production is dominated by the unmistakable expressive world of the Dutch artist and sculptor Karel Appel. A co-founder of the acclaimed Cobra Group, Appel developed a darkly expressionistic idiom and was the "secret dramaturge" of the production, says director Audi. Appel died at the age of 85 three months before the premiere of Die Zauberflote at the Salzburg Festival.

While the sets may be a treat for the eyes, the music is a feast for the ears. Metropolitan Opera and La Scala star Diana Damrau shines as a Queen of the Night who effortlessly tosses out her coloraturas with dazzling accuracy. Rene Pape's Sarastro is a worthy counterpart, a solemn figure with balsamic bass tones. Paul Groves' supple tenor voice ensures a faultless Tamino next to the captivatingly natural lyricism of Genia Kuhmeier's Pamina. Christian Gerhaher is a welcome, almost restrained Papageno. His Papagena, Irena Bespalovaite, brings her fresh musicality to the ensemble. The Vienna Philharmonic is led with an expert hand by the great Riccardo Muti.