“The Magic Flute” is Mozart’s fairy tale opera. The Metropolitan Opera’s short family version in English has become a New York City holiday tradition.
The Magic Flute in New York City
A family-friendly holiday presentation of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute;” stars Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón; at the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center; for 13 performances between December 8-30, 2023. In English. From $37. metopera.org 🇲🇽
There is a free Holiday Open House for ticket holders before the December 10 performance. That’s the show to see.
“The Magic Flute”
The Metropolitan Opera’s “The Magic Flute” is a family-friendly holiday production of Mozart’s German opera “Die Zauberflöte.” It premiered at the Freihaus Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna, Austria in 1791.
This is Julie Taymor’s 2004 staging. Taymor is the Tony Award-winning director of Disney’s “The Lion King” on Broadway.
The story is set in Egypt, the traditional birthplace of the Masonic fraternity. Mozart was a Freemason. Masonic symbols are used in the production, but the main effect is to give it a mysterious feeling. Interestingly, members of the Cuban men’s secret society Abakua considers themselves to be Freemasons. They make great music in Cuba.
Characters
- Queen of the Night is a soprano part. Her character doesn’t want people to know the truth.
- Pamina is a soprano part. She is the Queen of the Night’s daughter.
- Prince Tamino is a tenor part.
- Papageno is a baritone part. He is a comic bird catcher for the Queen of the Night.
- Sarastro is a bass part. He is the Masonic high priest.
Plot
The Queen of the Night sends Prince Tamino to rescue her daughter Pamina from the high priest Sarastro, but Tamino agrees with Sarastro’s philosophy. He and Pamina join Sarastro’s community, and the Queen of the Night is defeated.
The moral of Prince Tamino’s coming-of-age story, is that you progress by overcoming challenges.