2008 Woodie Awards
Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' plays its way to Miami's campus
Erin K. Mitchell
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Campus
Remember when you thought you could fly simply by believing? Dance till midnight with Prince Charming? Well, how about being charmed by a magical flute? Beginning this Thursday, Miami University students can experience just that.
The 10th-highest produced opera in America, Wolfgang Mozart's The Magic Flute has arrived on Miami's campus. According to a press release from the Miami department of theater, the 75 performers, 35 orchestra members and all-student cast-including the Men's Glee Club-make it the greatest number of students ever in a Miami opera.
Opening night is Thursday, Nov. 15 and the show runs through Sunday, Nov. 18 in Hall Auditorium. The show will start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
The Magic Flute was the last piece written by Mozart, premiering in Vienna, Austria two months before he died in 1791. The composer wrote the piece in a more modern operatic style for its time, called "Singspiel," which integrated singing and dialogue. Originally written in German, the Miami production will be sung in English.
The story follows a young prince, Tamino, who ventures out in the world pursuing great things. On the way, he finds a true friend, Papageno-a colorful, humorous birdcatcher that longs to find his wife. While helping in this effort, Tamino comes across the mystical Queen of the Night who employs him to rescue her daughter, Princess Pamina, from the "evil" Sarastro. The Queen then offers Tamino a "magic flute" to change the hearts of any man who stands in his way.
Production concept designer, Nicholas Muni, along with set designer, Geoffrey Ahlers, created the entire stage layout. Everything, they said, from the flowing backdrop to the colorful costumes, will all be viewed for the first time at the opera's debut.
"We focused on minimalism," Muni said. "With the size of Hall Auditorium it was important to use the entire space, take up the entire height of the auditorium. For instance, putting the orchestra on stage with the singers is not typical of a traditional opera."
The 10th-highest produced opera in America, Wolfgang Mozart's The Magic Flute has arrived on Miami's campus. According to a press release from the Miami department of theater, the 75 performers, 35 orchestra members and all-student cast-including the Men's Glee Club-make it the greatest number of students ever in a Miami opera.
Opening night is Thursday, Nov. 15 and the show runs through Sunday, Nov. 18 in Hall Auditorium. The show will start at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
The Magic Flute was the last piece written by Mozart, premiering in Vienna, Austria two months before he died in 1791. The composer wrote the piece in a more modern operatic style for its time, called "Singspiel," which integrated singing and dialogue. Originally written in German, the Miami production will be sung in English.
The story follows a young prince, Tamino, who ventures out in the world pursuing great things. On the way, he finds a true friend, Papageno-a colorful, humorous birdcatcher that longs to find his wife. While helping in this effort, Tamino comes across the mystical Queen of the Night who employs him to rescue her daughter, Princess Pamina, from the "evil" Sarastro. The Queen then offers Tamino a "magic flute" to change the hearts of any man who stands in his way.
Production concept designer, Nicholas Muni, along with set designer, Geoffrey Ahlers, created the entire stage layout. Everything, they said, from the flowing backdrop to the colorful costumes, will all be viewed for the first time at the opera's debut.
"We focused on minimalism," Muni said. "With the size of Hall Auditorium it was important to use the entire space, take up the entire height of the auditorium. For instance, putting the orchestra on stage with the singers is not typical of a traditional opera."
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