Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” — Humorous Fairy Tale, Fantasy

Sunday, October 15, 1 p.m., Orcas Center

— from Susannah Weaver for Orcas Center —

A scene from Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte.”
Photo: Cory Weaver/Metropolitan Opera
Taken during the dress rehearsal at the Metropolitan Opera on September 16, 2009.

Orcas Center presents the New York Met’s revival of “Die Zauberflöte” by Mozart streaming Live in HD on Sunday, October 15 at 1:00 pm. Music Director Emeritus James Levine brings out the magic in Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” with a stellar cast under his baton. The Met Opera’s revival of Julie Taymor’s enchanting staging captures both the opera’s earthy comedy and its noble mysticism.

“Die Zauberflöte” is part humorous fairy tale and part fantasy mixed in which the quest for love quest that is derailed by an initiation into a secret fraternity. Levine and Taymor’s fabulous production premiered 13 years ago and is as enticing as when it first wowed Met audiences in 2004. Taymor’s imaginative use of puppets adds whimsy and charm sure to captivate audiences. Levine entrances the audience with the Met Orchestra in the galloping Overture while Taymor’s first puppet, a giant snake slithers around the stage stalking Tamino as soon as the curtain rises.

Mozart composed “Die Zauberflöte” to a libretto written by his friend and fellow Freemason Emanuel Schikaneder. Written in the style of singspiel, in which the music is interspersed with spoken dialogue, it was to be Mozart’s final opera, as he died a few months later at the age of 35. Poet J.D. McClatchy’s brilliant English subtitling, mostly in rhyming couplets, highlights all the comedy of the original German that might otherwise be missed by English speaking audiences.

South African soprano Golda Schultz makes a dazzling debut as Pamina opposite the first-rate hometown New York tenor Charles Castronovo as Tamino and the Austrian baritone Markus Werba delivering a splendid Papageno. The press praises the entire cast, which includes Kathryn Lewek in her signature role as Queen of the Night, and the excellent German bass Tobias Kehrer as Sarastro. A host of fine support from the Three Ladies and the Three Spirits and others join to make this one of the best revival in years.

“But as always with Mozart, it is the music that most captivates and from the opening chords of the Overture, Levine conducts a sterling reading of the score,” raves The Huffington Post. “Castronovo has a strong tenor that shone in Tamino’s opening aria. Schultz was a tender and touching Pamina and one hopes to see more of her at the Met. She has a rich and warm soprano that flows smoothly into the upper register and her aria was simply lovely. The opera’s biggest vocal fireworks of course belong to the Queen of the Night which was spectacular.” Don’t miss this opportunity to be initiated to a “front row” opera with internationally acclaimed greats at Orcas Center.

Tickets for the Met’s “Die Zauberflöte” are $20 and $15 for students, with $2 off for Orcas Center members. They may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-3 pm. $5 subsidized tickets available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2017 season visit www.orcascenter.org.