Prague Die Zauberflöte at the Estates Theatre

This evening I saw the ‘Magic Flute’ in the Estates Theatre. This is an opera which is sexist, racist and definitely prejudiced against people who wear dark clothes, particularly if they sing very high notes. The men’s chorus all wore masonic aprons and regalia where appropriate and all the goings on seemed very authentic. (Didn’t they have Eastern Star in those days?) After a good performance of Zauberflöte, I often feel I must run to the locals and ask to join. (I was even told about a musicians’ lodge in London which meets at lunchtime!).

Mozart’s ‘Titus’ was still receiving acclaim on the same night that ‘The Magic Flute’ received its first performance in Vienna. After his trip to Prague, Mozart had spent the last couple of weeks of September completing this singspiel, his last opera. Just over two months after this first night of ‘The Magic Flute’ Mozart was dead. So it was right to hear ‘Titus’ last night then ‘Zauberflöte’ this evening.

To call the production minimal would to exaggerate the design of the ‘sets’. The opera opened with absolutely nothing on the stage. Eventually a huge parachute descended from the flies and this was the only object manipulated throughout the show. I liked it!!! The cast spent a lot of time singing about things that never happened but that’s no problem for me!!! The only weakness was the Queen of the Night while she was suspended by a tight wire. “The three ladies”, as they are termed, were great and I liked the way a ghostly Mozart appeared to play a real flute when Tamino waved his magic version in the air.

The opera opened with a stage full of monklike people sitting Taize style looking into the far distance. Then they started to do a slightly liturgical dance as Miriam, David and the early Christians must have done as part of their worship. They all wore flowing saffron robes and carried these dances throughout the opera. I particularly enjoyed this because I have often felt that sections of this Mozart opera are great as dance music. Why the opera movement classes used to use Tijuana Brass puzzles me.

Yep!! It’s a fun opera!! But the music is divine! Do we really need to ‘understand’ the plot? In the small Estates Theatre, this opera really works, however much people mutilate the production. It’s all about the music? Once again, it was a delight to be present in this lovely theatre to hear such an enjoyable performance. (Interesting that I would prefer this Prague production to any of those below!)
Diana Damrau as Queen of the Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMSgzuTA38A
2000 Paris Opera. (Those boys’ costumes were designed!!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INixpVpSerE
Conventional Production Beginning ROH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0RrVBG0uUU
“Zu Hilfe! Zu Hilfe!” (Araizia) Looks silly on such a large stage?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=recCUsEdf8k
ROH Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45iTdMOekbk
You aint seen nothin’ yet!!! Another trailer!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGMz8OlunO0
“Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” (Hemm)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElZcW4olcyA
Gösta Winbergh: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFMNA1ibLW4
Papageno.BIRD Catcher Benjamin LUXON
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W157PyG3dcQ
“Nur stille…Die Strahlen der Sonne”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFdB8Zz8VOo&feature=PlayList&p=9420C571D8E6F56C&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15
Overture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEnH_niAKWQ&feature=related
Overture – No comment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEEL-G9dcJU
Wierd?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6MMamY1AQI
Anton Scharinger sings the aria “Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja” 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEYueAkZR3M&feature=related
Piotr Beczala sings the aria “Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön” 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L9U_AfY34g&feature=related
Elena Mosuc sings the aria “O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn!” 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gri31wll8aU&feature=related
Malin Hartelius and Anton Scharinger sing the duet “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen” 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpGjqr0Pm7A&feature=related
Piotr Beczala and Jacob Will sing the duet “Die Weisheitslehre dieser Knaben” and the aria “Wie stark ist nicht dein Zauberton” 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EXl8YCXZpI&feature=related
Matti Salminen sings the aria “O Isis und Osiris” 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx6pNEFBh30&feature=related
Elena Mosuc sings the aria “Der Hölle Rache” 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bofe64-dG0A
Matti Salminen sings the aria “In diesen heil’gen Hallen” 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdRaAtfgMd8&feature=related
Malin Hartelius sings the aria “Ach, ich fühl’s” 10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q49VWQZDIIw&feature=related
Anton Scharinger sings the aria “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” 11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-4P81oWQUk&feature=related
Der, welcher wandert diese Strasse…Wir waldelten durch Feuersgluten” 12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfkb4SIZBG4&feature=related
[2006 Film] – Papageno Aria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nzioN5rdf0
clip – Hakan Hagegard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCrSIuj-giA
Tamino vs Serpent. 3 Ladies. Matthew Polenzani.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai6a06n0XCs&feature=PlayL ist&p=8BEAEAC70C476640&index=0&playnext=1
Die Zauberflöte Franz Welser-Möst (plays through ALL)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEnH_niAKWQ&feature=PlayList&p=23562967869D41E0&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=5
The Three Boys in Snow!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Eazy1qiHRk
Aria (Queen of the Night) ROH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYBif1yQqlc
Duet (Pamina, Papageno) ROH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sLKGUcXlKs
Diana Damrau – Der Hölle Rache
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qs01lrtmx8