Magic Flute (Metropolitan Opera)

The 2006 Metropolitan Opera production of Mozart's The Magic Flute is incredible for its staging. A must see for state of the art live theater.

I purchased this version to mainly see Taymor's treatment of "The Magic Flute". I was astounded. Having performed in a production of this opera myself, I know it can be difficult to "bring to life", understand and "sell" to an audience. Taymor's version made me truly enjoy this opera as I had not before...THANK YOU!.I have subsequently used this with my elementary students, who have also delighted in the opera and even asked to see it again! It is vocally as well as visually gratifying. I loved the minimalist sets and the work that must have gone into acting, enunciation, etc. (By the way, The Magic Flute is often done in vernacular language of where it is performed. It is an opera, yes, but has singspiel aspect of spoken dialogue. The singers have to work with dialogue acting coaches oftentimes.) I like this abridged format of the opera! It made more sense to me dramatically and I still saw all the "bits" I was accustomed to.This is well worth the price (I paid over $100 when it was out of print and it was still worth the cost.) I'm purchasing a second copy of this as I know mine will wear out from use!

Very well done production and is perfect for English speaking kids to learn about opera. Excellent voices especially the baritone Papageno and the lyric soprano Pamia. I showed it to a seven year old boy and a five year old girl and they loved it. The shortened version of this opera is perfect for kids. The original three hour German version is fine for adults but is to much for the kids to handle. This was done by the Metropolitan Opera of New York so the production values were superb. Many schools show this production in their music classes. Nice way to introduce kids to real music rather than the hip hop sonic toxic waste that is so oppressively prevalent. The opera is quite funny which went over well with the kids.

My first viewing left me agasp as I longed for a more traditional presentation; however the second viewing ciptivated me completely and I decided that this is what must happen to opera if it is to survive this generation and on to the next. Julie Taymor's creative interpretation is absolutely stunning. I still prefer to hear "Magic Flute" in the original German; but many are turned off by not being able to understand without reading the sub-titles. Nathan Gunn (Papageno) is a delight in one of my favorite operatic characters. Erika Miklosa (the Queen of the Night) is superb, particularly her appearances at the inventive hands of Taymor. Pape, Huang and Polenzani are all excellent as they transform one from a sterile Vienese Masonic setting into an atmosphere somewhere west of Tokyo. Thank God Monostatos is not depicted as black. Although I despise tampering with the classics to make them politically acceptable to the post modern mind-set, making this villain something other than black is a most pleasant departure. It's all delightful. Levine's direction is wonderful, but his declining health is notable. The Meptropolitan Opera's attempt under Gelb and Halverson to make opera accessible to skeptical twenty-first century minds is honorable and successful.

I bought this version especially because it IS sung in English. My four year-old granddaughter wouldn't have been able to read the subtitles, had it been in the original German, but she knows English. I enjoyed this, too, in part because she did. The singing is excellent and so is the staging. I’d like to add that it states right up front that the performance is in English. Those who bought this DVD expecting a German performance have only themselves to blame.

I have been listening to classical music for close to 60 years and I have never seen a more ridiculous cut in my entire life.Here you are listening to Mozart's greatest overture and suddenly it ends about two-thirds of the way. If there was a reason for the cut, I cannot fathom it. This is a DVD which allows for plenty of music but they still took the cut. There is no rationality for it at all. Otherwise, this is a superior performance by all parties.

Can't understand why anyone would write a review give the DVD 5 stars yet not actually view the DVD and then give what they think is an educated synopsis of the Opera?Never mind!Back to the DVD, new release of the above said version and long awaited by many. The production is the English language version of Julie Taymor's hit production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, it is a visual as well as audio spectacular. The DVD is upgraded to full HD so nice crisp images and Dolby sound.Conducted by Metropolitan Opera Music Director James Levine, the main cast includes Ying Huang as Pamina, Matthew Polenzani as Tamino, and René Pape as Sarastro, the true outstanding stars of this performance are Erika Miklósa as Queen of the Night with a wonderful rendition of the the Queen of the Night aria but Nathan Gunn as Papageno absolutely stole the show with his comic portrayal of his role.Lovely abridged version of Mozart's Magic Flute in English.Region 1, so only viewable on multi region DVD players or Blu Ray players in the UK.

This is how you introduce young children to opera. After they've watched Dinosaur Train, Daniel Tiger and similar wonderful PBS children's shows, shove this in the DVD player while they're pre-occupied and put it on auto-play. Chances are good you'll walk into the room and the youngster will be sitting down watching the Met's fantastic costumes listening to Mozart's glorious music fascinated by it all. That's what I did with my two and a half year old grandson (almost three as I write this) and he's actually asked to see this more than once. Its the abbreviated English language version the Met used to premier their live HD simulcasts back in 2006.

I've watched it some 12 times. The best version I've seen so far. Only negative aspect is the camera job: they keep filming close to the players and this ruins a lot of the scenes because make-up and stage effects are directed at people standing some distance away. For some silly reasons camera men use their magnifying focus options to close up on characters. It totally ruins the scene the moment they do that and shows terrible lack of professional skill.Nevertheless, the camera crew was unsuccessful in destroying the magnificent show created by Metropolitan Opera.

Sadly we gave up watching half way through. Sung in English ( we are English) and it lost its "soul". Costumes are Oriental for some reason, there are lots of fabric wands waving different creatures who keep appearing - a few would be ok and more effective.It is an abridged version. As always the singers are great but it should just be in German or French ( neither of which we can speak ) I shall look for another version and doubt very much whether we will ever watch this one again!Have just bought and watched Igmar Bergman's 1970s version which is sooo much better although not digitalised its still very good.

To be honest, I thought that I had already reviewed this because I had enjoyed it so much. I watched it on tv years ago and could not find the DVD to buy. However, I had not realised that it has been abridged - showed you how much of an expert I am! But I really enjoyed it, especially the make up, costumes and scenery. What imagination! It would be difficult to single out one particular character because I enjoyed the whole performance. I think that this would appeal to young people as an introduction to opera, and to help them realise that opera is not just for older people, and it does not have to be highbrow. There was a lot of humour in this production. Perhaps the same format could be used with other operas.

I will never forget the first opera I ever saw in 1959 when I was 26 years old - a gala performance conducted by Karl Bohm at the Vienna State Opera. Most memorable of all was the Queen of the Night appearing on a rising moon that eventually rose high above the stage. This production is very different but is highly recommended for its originality and for being visually stunning. A most gifted cast of outstanding performers give their all in an exciting performance conducted by the always outstanding James Levine. I love this DVD do much that I have bought additional copies to give to relatives and friends. All have enjoyed it as much as I have.

The NY Met are not known for a cheese-paring approach to opera production. This production could have been oppressed by the sets, the puppets, the dancing and the general "how can we spend a bit more on this bit" philosphy - but it doesn't. Papageno is brilliant, Pamina has a beautifully unforced, sweet voice (and can act) and the Queen is more than able to deal with the Mardi Gras cavalcade that graces her arias.