AN ENCHANTING FAIRY TALE BETWEEN FANTASY & REALITY

The story begins quite simply: a young prince is sent by a queen to rescue her daughter, a beautiful princess, from the clutches of an evil ruler. At the prince's side is a strange bird catcher, and all around them are wild animals, trials to be overcome, and tests of fire and water. But it wouldn't be Schikaneder and Mozart if it didn't soon become clear that the story isn't quite so simple. For good and evil soon become difficult to distinguish from one another. And the bonds between parents and children are more complicated than they first appear.

The story of Die Zauberflöte has been interpreted and reinterpreted many times. But one of the reasons why it continues to fascinate us today is its characters, who are portrayed as diverse, colourful and complex, just like real people. In Lotte de Beer's production, the opera remains a beautiful, enchanting fairy tale. But at the same time, she seeks an emotional anchor for this story. Someone who draws the audience into the narrative. ‘Animated videos will open up a path into this world for us.’ Imagination gives rise to fairy-tale-like, impressive, unsettling, fascinating spaces in this eagerly awaited new production, in which Mozart and Schikaneder's fable is told in all its complexity.

For conductor Tobias Wögerer, ‘Die Zauberflöte thrives on its stark contrasts – a feature of many of Mozart's stage works, which he takes to a new dimension here. He contrasts simple, almost folk-like verse songs with dramatic, profound arias, combining elements of opera seria with those of Singspiel.’ But what makes this work particularly special for Wögerer is that the music is the actual main character of the opera. ‘It is not only an accompaniment, but also the driving force behind the plot. It is only with its help that Tamino, Pamina and Papageno pass their tests – it provides guidance, hope and strength. A message that could hardly be more relevant today: music helps us get through even the darkest times.’

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A PICTURE BOOK

For Lotte de Beer, Die Zauberflöte has a lot to do with growing up. Animated videos in her production will open up the fantasy world of a young person. ‘The basic idea was to use painting. A young boy who paints – and we immerse ourselves in this painted world. Later, the idea arose to animate these paintings. You open a picture book and immerse yourself in the world. There is no difference between acting, music, stage, video – a world is created. That would be the ideal result,’ says set designer Christof Hetzer. ‘We are approaching this result in two ways. For example, the costumes will look like they have been painted, while at the same time we are filming the performers and transferring their movements to the drawn characters,’ explains video designer Roman Hansi.

This production of Die Zauberflöte features an ensemble on stage that includes many artists from the theatre's own company. Stefan Cerny takes on the role of Sarastro, while David Kerber and Rebecca Nelsen appear as Tamino and Pamina. Papageno and Papagena are portrayed by Daniel Schmutzhard and Jaye Simmons. Anna Simińska sings the Queen of the Night.