By Robert D. Thomas
Music Critic
Pasadena Star-News/San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Whittier Daily News
This article was first published today in the above papers.
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* Los Angeles Opera: Mozart’s The Magic Flute
Performed in German with English supertitles
• Jan. 10 (7:30 p.m.), Jan. 11 (2 p.m.), Jan. 16 (7:30 p.m.), Jan. 17 (7:30 p.m.), Jan. 18 (2 p.m.), Jan. 21 (1 p.m.), Jan. 22 (7:30 p.m.), Jan. 24 (7:30 p.m.), Jan. 25 (2 p.m.) Preconcert lectures one hour before each performance with conductor James Conlon and radio personality Alan Chapman
• Dorothy Chandler Pavilion; 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles
• Tickets: $20-$250
• Information: 213/972-8001; www.laopera.com
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There are a myriad of reasons why you should attend an opera and Los Angeles Opera’s revival of its landmark production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) features a long list of those attributes.
First, and foremost, The Magic Flute remains exactly that: pure magic, even 217 years after it was written, one of the great pieces that Mozart or any other composer ever conceived. A fairy tale rendition on the good vs. evil theme, The Magic Flute” is exquisite from overture to conclusion, and having L.A. Opera Music Director James Conlon presiding in the orchestra pit counts as a real bonus.
Second, this production — first mounted by Sir Peter Hall in 1991 and revived in 1992, 1998 and 2002 — is one of the best ever put together by L.A. Opera. Although Hall will not be present this time around, the wacky colorful sets and costumes by British satirist/cartoonist Gerald Scarfe will be very much in evidence. Michael Gottlieb takes over lighting duties from Richard Pilbrow.
Third, the mostly double cast (deemed necessary since there are nine performances in 15 days) features Nathan Gunn and Markus Werba alternating as Papageno, L’ubica Vargicová and Albina Shagimuratova alternating as the Queen of the Night, and a number of singers making their company debuts. Among the latter is Matthias Goerne as the Speaker in all performances.
The only downside for some people is that the 3:10 long production has just one intermission. Nonetheless, hopefully it will, indeed, be a magical three-plus hours.
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(c) Copyright 2009, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Portions may be quoted with attribution.
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