The streaming offer is going well for the Salzburger Landestheater in the truest sense of the word. Especially internationally, they get more attention than expected. So today, Friday evening, one can speak of a worldwide premiere of Christiane Lutz's new production of Mozart's “Magic Flute”.
Image: APA / Salzburg State Theater
The work has international popularity anyway, as the “Magic Flute” is considered one of the most frequently performed operas – and an entry-level work that is particularly popular with children. A heroic prince, an evil queen as an adversary, magical objects, that is the stuff of fairy tales. In contemporary productions in particular, however, the transfer into the here and now is particularly popular, and the excavations in the philosophical and Masonic sub-texts by Mozart and Emanuel Schikaneder can often not be deep enough.
However, Christiane Lutz does not get involved in this little game. It makes use of the classic magic flute appearance and symbolism: high, ivy-entwined temple walls, hieroglyphic inscriptions and projections of the four elements (stage: Christian Tabakoff). It was not just August Everding who, with his reconstruction of the 200-year-old production of the Hofoper Unter den Linden in the 90s, proved that the tried and tested are often best. And so Lutz, with her long priestly robes, the venomous silver snake and the cosmic constellations, does not want to break new ground – even if Papageno walks along him in sneakers and the three boys ride on converted e-scooters. However, the path is a very solid one, which you should play into your cards, especially with a view to the video stream, which is currently the only way to see the staging. After all, familiar things appear less strange on the screen.
The musical performance is particularly prone to being drowned in the stream, as it depends primarily on the device used by the home audience. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the Salzburg State Theater offered a few journalists the opportunity to attend the dress rehearsal, albeit under strict conditions.
Tamino is not only Pamina's savior, but also a model boy when it comes to passing Sarastro's exams. And just as exemplary and heroic is David Fischer in his role. He may not necessarily sound like he can't get the snake under control on his own, but who wouldn't want to be saved by three such adorable-sounding ladies like Julia Moorman, Olivia Cosio and Verena Gunz. But you don't want to mess with their boss, the Queen of the Night, because Alina Wunderlin phrased the coloratura so razor-sharp. Unfortunately, the conductor Leslie Suganandarajah does not always let her play this card to the full, but the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, who can clearly hear the joy of playing at the work.
The rest of the ensemble also passes the exam in an exemplary manner. Papageno George Humphreys relies on the birdcatcher's comedic potential. Franz Supper eyes and sings very keenly and energetically as Monostatos and not only does a girlish and at the same time strong (acting and vocal) Pamina (Jana Baumeister) twist his head, which is also reflected in her costume, a pink pants suit. Andreas Hörl as Sarastro watches over this with paternal and kind bass, who can hardly be disturbed by anything, except for the lower parts.
Streaming access to the Salzburg State Theater currently costs nine euros. Money well invested for everyone who wants to be carried away to distant worlds in these hard times, not just for culture, in order to escape the earthly madness for at least two hours.
(SERVICE – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: “The Magic Flute”. Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. Musical director: Leslie Suganandarajah, production: Christiane Lutz, stage: Christian Tabakoff, costumes: Dorothee Joisten. On stage: Sarastro: Andreas Hörl, Tamino: David Fischer, 1st priest: Helmut Bogengruber, 2nd priest: Luke Sinclair, 3rd priest / speaker: Samuel Pantcheff, The Queen of the Night: Alina Wunderlin, Pamina: Jana Baumeister, 1st lady: Julia Moorman, 2nd lady: Olivia Cosio, 3rd lady: Verena Gunz, 1st boy: Lorens Laubenbacher, Filip Köpke, Annalena Huber, Melanie Maderegger, 2nd boy: Alisa Rotthaler, Muriel Glage, Melanie Maderegger, 3rd boy: Maria Strassl, Anna Schachner, Melanie Maderegger , Papageno: George Humphreys, Papagena: Laura Barthel, Monostatos: Franz Supper, 1st man in armor: Luke Sinclair, 2nd man in armor: Helmut Bogengruber, orchestra: Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, choir: Chor des Salzburger Landestheater. Digital premiere: March 5th , 5 p.m., Stre aming under)
