Mozart’s timeless opera Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) will be performed in a new production of the Israeli Opera, directed by Jean-Louis Grinda and conducted by David Stern, the music director of the Israeli opera. There will be 12 performances, beginning May 13, 2011.
The distinctive aspect of this production is its setting – the adventure is not fixed in time or place, three ordinary children experience the wonder that can magically take place anywhere, at any time. With this choice, French opera director Jean-Louis Grinda (Don Carlo, Mephistopheles ad La Gioconda at the Israeli Opera) gives the Magic Flute a universal quality.
More information from the press release: The Magic flute is the last opera Mozart composed in which he returned the German singspiel genre (a sort of an 18th century musical). This was the first opera Mozart composed not on commission but only for a promise that he will have his share of the box office receipts, an arrangement which was far from usual at the time. This arrangement was the idea of impresario, theatre owner and singing actor Emanuel Shikaneder, who wrote the libretto of The Magic Flute.
This magical opera in on the one hand a fairytale about the battle of good against evil and on the other a much deeper philosophical opus about the meaning of right and wrong and the nature of human beings, replete with numerous freemasonry images. It is a hero’s initiation rite in which he sets of on a journey to save a damsel in distress and in the process discovers his own true self.
Israeli soprano Hila Baggio (Marie in La Fille du Regiment earlier this season), sings the role of Princess Pamina. Guy Manheim (who has performed numerous roles at the Israeli Opera) will perform Papageno, the role Mozart composed for Emanuel Shikaneder, who wrote the libretto for the opera. Young American tenor Arthur Espiritu will perform the role of Prince Tamino in his Israeli Opera debut, sharing the roles with Israeli tenor Joseph Aridan. Two guest coloratura sopranos will share the role of the Queen of the Night – Russian Yekaterina Lekhina (Olympia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the Israeli Opera) and American Sara Hershkowitz in her company debut. Israeli born American bass Oren Gradus makes his company debut as Sarastro and American tenor Denis Petersen makes his Israeli debut in the role of Monostatos. The cast also features many more Israeli opera singers including two groups of children trios in the role of the young boys who in this production have a major acting role aside of their singing numbers.
The opera is performed in German with Hebrew and English surtitles. As is usual in all Israeli Opera performances, a 30 minutes pre performance lecture (in Hebrew) will be available to all ticket holders one hour before curtain time. Opera Talkbacks will take place after several of the performances. Ticket prices are 175/237/304/378/428 NIS, and may be ordered online, or call: 03- -692-7777.
Performance dates:
Fri 13.5.11 (12:30), Sat 14.5.11 (20:30), Mon* 16.5.11 (20:00), Tues 17.5.11 (20:00), Wed 18.5.11 (20:00), Thurs 19.5.11 (20:00), Fri 20.5.11 (12:30), Sat 21.5.11 (20:30), Mon 23.5.11 (20:00), Tues 24.5.11 (20:00), Thurs 26.5.11 (20:00), Fri 27.5.11 (12:30)
