Magic Flute coming to Auckland
This month Auckland will get to see a new version of Mozart's Magic Flute.
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Hawke’s Bay
The Magic Flute
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre, Auckland
June 16 - 26
This month Auckland will get to see a new version of Mozart’s Magic Flute, which has enjoyed a successful season in Wellington. It was described by Theatreview as “superbly realised – one may as well say flawless – production.” Lindis Taylor writing in High C said: “In all, this was a simply splendid production, one of the best the company has ever done, and even among the best anywhere in New Zealand.”
The Magic Flute tells the mythical tale of Prince Tamino seeking to save his beloved Pamina from the clutches of her evil mother, Queen of Night. It is a story of love conquering all, adventure, comedy, magic and good versus evil, all brought together by Mozart’s extraordinary score.
The opera is directed by arts laureate Sara Brodie and features sets and props by John Verryt, costumes by Elizabeth Whiting and Lisa Holmes and lighting by Paul Lim. NZ Opera’s director of music, Wyn Davies, conducts the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
The cast includes the Dame Malvina Major young artist, Emma Fraser, as Pamina, bass Wade Kernot as Sarastro and three singers making their New Zealand debuts – American tenor Randall Bills (Tamino), Australian Baritone Samuel Dundas (Papageno) and British soprano Ruth Jenkins-Róbertsson (Queen of Night).
While audiences can anticipate some surprises on stage, Ms Brodie says “We are staying true to the Zauber (magic) opera form and the comedic.”
“It is most certainly a comedy but one which is subliminal and sublime. Sublime is certainly how I think about the music of Flute and that Mozart intended to immerse us in his most divine harmonies, most ecstatic coloratura and sacred hymns, in this his final opera, which is most certainly a masterpiece.”
The Magic Flute will be performed in English and combines singing and spoken dialogue.
Tune into NBR Radio’s Sunday Business with Andrew Patterson on Sunday morning, for analysis and feature-length interviews.
John Daly-Peoples
Fri, 03 Jun 2016
Fri, 03 Jun 2016
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Magic Flute coming to Auckland
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