Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera
The Met's annual holiday presentation offers an ideal opportunity for audiences of all ages to celebrate the season. Julie Taymor's breathtaking and popular production of Mozart's masterpiece, The Magic Flute, takes the stage in its abridged, English-language version, with Nathan Gunn as the irrepressible bird-catcher Papageno. With holiday prices — tickets start at just $22 and orchestra seats are $109 — and special weekday matinees, this 100-minute show is the perfect way for the entire family to experience the Met.
Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera
The Met's annual holiday presentation offers an ideal opportunity for audiences of all ages to celebrate the season. Julie Taymor's breathtaking and popular production of Mozart's masterpiece, The Magic Flute, takes the stage in its abridged, English-language version, with Nathan Gunn as the irrepressible bird-catcher Papageno. With holiday prices — tickets start at just $22 and orchestra seats are $109 — and special weekday matinees, this 100-minute show is the perfect way for the entire family to experience the Met.
A mythical land between the sun and the moon. Three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night save Prince Tamino from a serpent. The Queen, appearing in a burst of thunder, tells Tamino about the abduction of her daughter, Pamina. Tamino, who has fallen in love with a portrait of Pamina, agrees to rescue her. The ladies give a magic flute to Tamino and silver bells to his friend Papageno, the birdcatcher, to ensure their safety on the journey and appoint three spirits to guide them.
Led by the three spirits to the temple of Sarastro, Tamino learns from a high priest that it is, in fact, the Queen who is evil. Sarastro tells the priests that Tamino will undergo initiation rites, guided by the three spirits and protected by the magic flute. Papageno uses his magic bells to summon in his true love, Papagena. The Queen of the Night, her three ladies, and Monostatos, Sarastro’s slave, attack the temple but are defeated and banished. Sarastro blesses Pamina and Tamino as all join in hailing the triumph of courage, virtue, and wisdom.
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What did you first focus on when designing this production?
What I think is great, first and foremost, is the music. The beauty and joy of Mozart's music is really exciting and fun. And it's a story of young people and their journey through danger and fantasy and wildness. It's a coming-of-age story about young people.
What are the challenges of this opera?
There's nothing difficult in The Magic Flute. Through the centuries it has been the most popular opera ever performed–ever. It's for all people, because it's a lyrical, magical love story set against this incredible backdrop of enchantment and mystery and darkness against the bright.
There are a lot of puppets in the production–the dragon, the birds, the dancing bears.
The wings of the Queen of the Night and the birds and the bears and dragon all feature light moving through fabric. It's almost like Japanese kites. As opposed to the heavier kind of puppetry that's more like stuffed animals. This is much more light and airy. And that comes from the notion of air coming through the flute.
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