Celebrating its fortieth season, Opera Atelier will current Mozart’s The Magic Flute for 4 performances October 15 – 19 at Toronto’s Elgin Theatre.
The Magic Flute
In response to Operabase and Bachtrack, Mozart’s The Magic Flute is the second most carried out opera worldwide. Premiered in 1791, this timeless traditional was Mozart’s remaining opera and his most well-known to be composed in German, within the fashion of Singspiel, which mixes spoken dialogue with music.
Opera Atelier
Based in 1985 by Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg, Opera Atelier makes a speciality of staging works from the seventeenth and 18th centuries utilizing interval devices, costumes, and choreography.
Their productions are celebrated for combining scholarly authenticity with theatrical aptitude, usually incorporating Baroque dance into their stagings.
Ludwig Van spoke to Director Marshall Pynkoski about this upcoming manufacturing.
The Manufacturing
The Magic Flute has a vital place in Opera Atelier’s historical past. Its manufacturing is North America’s first and solely interval manufacturing of the opera, and is sung in English with Andrew Porter’s translation. Marshall says that when OA carried out it for the primary time in 1991, “it was a cutting-edge manufacturing. It redefined what interval music might imply. It acquired unbelievable critiques and response, and it traveled throughout Canada and all through the US. It turned an actual takeoff level for us.”
This manufacturing options plenty of dancing, which was the norm in 18th century operas, although different modern-day productions have largely minimize them out because of the expense of hiring dancers.
“Within the 18th century, there have been ballets that have been filled with singing, and operas that have been filled with dancing. The artwork kinds weren’t mutually unique. And that’s one thing that we actually like to emphasise. The opera of the 18th century is sort of a Broadway musical.”
The OA manufacturing may have dazzling particular results, like a dragon and a flying gondola. “The Queen of the Evening has a wide ranging entrance by which your entire sky modifications form, the moon and stars seem, then she flies into the centre of the moon,” says Marshall.
Not solely will the world-renowned Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra present the accompaniment on interval devices, members of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale might be on stage for the primary time because the refrain.
The Solid
The lead function of Prince Tamino might be sung by Tenor Colin Ainsworth, who has been in quite a few OA productions.
“He’s our tenor of selection for this kind of function. He appears ageless, each in his seems to be and his voice. He’s additionally an important comic.”
Marshall is particularly thrilled to convey Soprano Rainelle Krause to OA for her signature function of The Queen of the Evening. Rainelle has sung this award-winning function with many famend opera homes, and after making her Queen debut at OA, she might be debuting it at Santa Fe and The Metropolitan Opera later this season.
Marshall is equally excited in regards to the three singers who’re performing Magic Flute for the primary time: Soprano Meghan Lindsay as Pamino, tenor Blaise Rantoanina as Monostatos, and bass-baritone Douglas Williams because the lovable Papageno.
“It’s at all times thrilling when a singer is singing their function for the primary time. They’re creating their function. There’s a actual edge and electrical energy about it.”
Closing Ideas
Marshall desires to emphasise that OA’s Magic Flute is accessible to everybody, younger and outdated. He notes that in Mozart’s time, going to the opera was a way more relaxed affair.
“The actors interacted with the viewers, and they might play encores if the viewers applauded sufficient.” That is the form of ambiance the viewers would discover on this OA manufacturing.
OA’s Magic Flute additionally displays the variety of our metropolis. “We have now a unbelievable ethnic and racial combine on stage. We didn’t solid these folks with that in thoughts, it simply occurred to be an exquisite coincidence. And I believe that’s what we wish to see, that Toronto opera seems to be just like the streets of Toronto,” says Marshall.
“Magic Flute is ‘the nutcracker of the opera world.’ It’s sung in English, has great music and tunes that you simply’ll keep in mind after you permit. This is a chance for folks to demystify what opera is. I believe that is the opera for individuals who suppose they don’t like opera. And it’s the right introduction for individuals who have by no means been to an opera.”
- Opera Atelier presents Mozart’s The Magic Flute October 15, 16, 18, 19, 2025 on the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. Discover tickets and extra data [HERE].
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Denise Lai is a Physiotherapist and Faculty Professor. She is an alumnus of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and a rusty piano participant.