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Here comes the Queen of the Night
PREVIEW:THE MAGIC FLUTE
ENO Coliseum
M?OZART'S’s much-loved masterpiece The Magic Flute returns to the ENO in January for the 13th revival of Nicholas Hytner’s 1988 landmark staging, with director Ian Rutherford once more at the helm.
The fairytale tells the story of Tamino, a prince lost in a distant land who we meet being chased by a serpent. Tamino faints from fatigue after the long pursuit and three ladies, attendants of the queen, appear and kill the serpent.
The attendants fall in love with the prince but after an argument they decide that it is best that they all leave together.
When Tamino awakes he meets Papageno, a bird catcher, who claims to have defeated the serpent and saved the young prince’s life.
The attendants reappear, reveal Papageno’s lie, and punish him for his deception.
The attendants then show Tamino an image of a young maiden, who he instantly falls in love with. The maiden, Pamina, is the daughter of the Queen of the Night, who appears to tell Tamino that if he can free the princess from the hands of the villain Sarastro, he can marry her.
Tamino is given a magic flute that can change the hearts of men and free Pamina from her chains.
So far, so confusing – but to be honest, as with most operas, the labyrinthine plot and unlikely twisted chains of make-believe are secondary to what’s really important here: the music.
Mozart’s composition is among the most uplifting and endearing you’ll ever come across. Far from being hard work that demands your attention, The Magic Flute is soothing and wonderfully easy to listen to.
This shouldn’t be confused with light opera – it’s far from it. But the genius of Mozart makes it one of the most accessible works you’re likely to see or hear in 2009.
In the pit, the young conductor Erik Nielsen, Kapellmeister of the Frankfurt Opera, makes his ENO debut. He shares the baton with Stephen Higgins (February 7 matinée and February 12).
The ensemble is led by Sarah-Jane Davies, returning as Pamina opposite Robert Murray, who joins this production as Tamino.
Roderick Williams returns to reprise his highly praised Papageno of last Season (sharing the role with Toby Stafford-Allen in the February 7 matinée and February 12) and the celebrated British bass Robert Lloyd will sing the role of Sarastro in this production for the first time.
American soprano Emily Hindrichs makes her ENO debut as The Queen of Night, sharing the role with Laure Meloy (February 7 matinée and February 12).
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