The Met brings 'Magic Flute'
Steven Martz, Staff writer
Once again, the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture is transporting us to a wonderful performance at the Metropolitan Opera without having to learn "fake" English.
An encore of "Die Zauberflote," popularly known as "The Magic Flute," will be shown at the Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center on Oct. 21.
The recording starts at 12:55 p.m. with doors opening at 12:30 p.m.
The opera has a total run time of 3 hours and 9 minutes, including a 35-minute intermission.
The opera is sung in German with "Met Titles" in English, German and Spanish.
The composer for this opera is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the genius of the late 1700s.
Mozart actually died three months after the debut of "Die Zauberflote."
Emanuel Schikaneder was the librettist, but also the original actor that played Papageno.
This fairy tale of an opera moves fluidly between earthy comedy and noble mysticism.
The interesting thing about this opera is that it was written to appeal to the poor and noble class during its time.
It was truly written for the Vienna theater it was first performed in.
The opera is a song play, or Singspiel, format. Like any musical today, it is musical numbers connected by more of a play type atmosphere with dialogue and stage activity.
The creators of the opera were Freemasons, and Masonic symbolism is spread throughout the piece.
The opera is set in Egypt, but many producers decide to use a general setting that just conveys the otherworldliness the opera calls for.
The conductor is James Levine. The opera also has a talented cast behind it.
Golda Schultz plays Pamina, the Queen of the Night is played by Kathryn Lewek and Tamino is played by Charles Castronovo. Other notable talents are Markus Werba, Christian Van Horn and Rene Pape.
Get your tickets online or at the Mercyhurst box office.
As always tickets are free for Mercyhurst students, $18 for an adult ticket, $15 for seniors and other students and $10 for youth.
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