The Magic Flute

Magic Flute is my favorite opera so I was searching the Youtube, looking for best performance of famous "Holle rache" aria. My favorite performer used to be Edda Moser when I heard Dianna Damrau - she was nothing less than superb. There are lot of good performances of that aria but when you hear Dianna you can hear not only music but also feel her emotions - hate and vengeance. It was same with other two arias - sorrow in the first one and joy in the second.

Next step, got that DVD and listen to the whole opera. Magical Flute has quite a few important roles and usually some performers are excellent/very good and some not so good. Here it is not just Dianna that excels in her performance, but virtually every singer is excellent and also an orchestra - even Mozart himself would be pleased.

Simon Keenlyside masters the Papageno role both in singing and acting (esspecialy the comic side of his character) and Ailish Tynan as Papagena doesn't fade in their famous duo like some other singers.

Willi Hartmann as Tamino and Dorothea Röschmann as Pamina with their clear voices goes well together.

Sarastro, Monostratos, Three ladies, Three boys I liked all of them.

Scenography and costume design is simple but good - it doesn't hinder performance like for example in Metropolitan 2004 version where poor Erika Miklosa has to stand still whole time because of her costume.

The music is in the center here but director and choreographer have also done good job and there is enough space for good acting as well.

If you like Mozart and opera, watch this and you will watch it again and again.