Mozart - Die Zauberflote / Michael Kurz, Birgit Beer, Sebastian Holecek, Erika Miklosi, Maxim...

Mozart - Die Zauberflote / Michael Kurz, Birgit Beer, Sebastian Holecek, Erika Miklosi, Maxim Mihailov, ... | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Elisabeth Ofenbock | Surprise! Surprise! This production is very good!!!

DVDs:

Mozart - Die Zaube...

	Mozart - Die Zauberflote / Michael Kurz, Birgit Beer, Sebastian Holecek, Erika Miklosi, Maxim Mihailov, ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Elisabeth Ofenbock Amado, 2006 average customer review:based on 3 reviews view larger image
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Although Its Form And Structure Are Disserviced By Heavy Cutting, Bright Scenes Dominate.

As in the cases of two other operas, Aida and Carmen, that were filmed in 1999 at the St. Margarethen operatic festival in Austria's state of Burgenland, and released upon DVDs, this German language effort may displease those to whom subtitling translation from a foreign tongue is of first concern, as there is none, but any abiding interest within a viewer for Mozart's piece will be more affected by severe abridgement that eliminates numerous pages of the score. German text of the plot abstract, with voiceover, utilized during the playing of the overture leads into this stunning achievement that features inspiring outdoor special effects ably executed by a crew under the leadership of Robert Herzl. Numerous widely disparate interpretations of Zauberflöte exist, with Herzl's staging emphasis here upon the fabulous being not only effectively accomplished, but permissive of all denotations, even to some of a revisionist attitude. A stylized setting created by the Stagione D'Opera Italiana production is, as ever during this Festival, ensconced within a Roman quarry that provides a superb acoustic fundament for the talented soloists, Junge Bundesländer Philharmonie conducted by Michael Lessky, as well as a choral group frequently employed by the Stagione team: Honved Ensemble Budapest, the sole professional male choir based in Europe. The plot of the opera, a tale of lovers unwillingly separated and compelled to succeed at a challenging series of trials in order to be reunited, presents to Mozart an opportunity to construct a portmanteau of scenes suffused with bright moments, while free from longueurs. Although originally intended by the composer to be in singspiel format, numerous memorable arias are to be found throughout, and an able cast offers clinker-free singing, with Erika Miuklosi as Queen of the Night additionally earning acting honours here, with all giving performances that greatly pleased the sold-out live audience, only a surfeit of cutting bound to disgruntle DVD viewers.

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Surprise! Surprise! This production is very good!!!

Too bad this is an abridged version of Die Zauberflote without subtitles because the singing is excellent and the visuals are dramatic, colorful and entertaining. I confess I did not recognize what was missing as my German is primitive; I just followed along with the action and managed to enjoy all 100 minutes of it anyway.

There is a choice of six languages for the menu only. Once you pick English, you will see the biographies of the cast in English but nothing else. The synopsis is in German and, as already stated, there are no subtitles.

The entire cast is excellent both in singing and acting. Maxim Mihailov as Sarastro is a wonderful bass. Michael Kurz is a good looking and talented tenor as Tamino. Birgit Beer as Tamina and Erika Miklosa as the Queen of the Night are excellent. The queen is perched on a moon high upon the top of St. Margarethen for her first spectacularly set aria. Papageno, Sebastian Holecek, and Papagena, Elisabeth Ofenbock, are very animated.

This is a very well done Magic Flute and if you can follow the German and/or the story line without subtitles, you will not be disappointed.

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