English National Opera: The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute
7 November – 7 December 2013
12 performances
Running time: 3hrs
New production

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Emanuel Schikaneder

Mozart’s beloved magical fairy tale follows Prince Tamino and bird-catcher Papageno on an adventure to rescue Princess Pamina. On their journey they meet fantastical creatures and face unexpected trials and challenges. The opera is a light-hearted but profound examination of man’s search for love and his struggle to attain wisdom and virtue.

For this new production, Complicite’s artistic director Simon McBurney has investigated the circumstances, inspiration and dramatic language of the opera’s origins in order to reveal fresh layers of meaning in a production that offers a remarkable visual and physical response to Mozart’s theatrical genius.

Conducted by Gergely Madaras (ENO Charles Mackerras Fellow), The Magic Flute features ENO Harewood Artist Ben Johnson as Tamino, American soprano Devon Guthrie as Pamina, Roland Wood as the bird-catcher Papageno and James Creswell as Sarastro.

‘All the stagecraft of his Complicite work transfers beautifully to opera’ The Guardian on Simon McBurney’s ENO production of A Dog’s Heart

Pre-performance talk: Tue 12 Nov, 5.15pm-6pm, £5/£2.50 concs

A collaboration with Complicite
Co-produced by ENO, De Nederlandse Opera and International Festival of Lyric Art, Aix-en-Provence

Conductor Gergely Madaras
Director Simon McBurney
Set Designer Michael Levine
Costume Designer Nicky Gillibrand
Choreographer Josie Daxter
Lighting Designer Jean Kalman
Video Designer Finn Ross
Sound Designer Gareth Fry
Translator Stephen Jeffreys

Cast Includes
Tamino Ben Johnson
Pamina Devon Guthrie
Papageno Roland Wood
Papagena Mary Bevan
Sarastro James Creswell
Monostatos Brian Galliford
First Lady Eleanor Dennis
Second Lady Clare Presland
Third Lady Rosie Aldridge