Music

This production of a special edition of Mozart’s great fairy-tale opera The Magic Flute is an abridged version specially prepared for the purpose of educating the secondary school students in enhancing their knowledge and appreciation of western opera.

Opera is a refined and highly developed art form with an enduring tradition emphasizing beautiful music and powerful dramatic expression. Mozart is one of the greatest musical geniuses in history particularly famous for his operatic compositions. The Magic Flute is the last opera he created shortly before his premature death at the age of 35. It has been one of the most popular and successful works of its kind ever since its first performance in Vienna in 1791 and has been widely praised for its inspired music and imaginative theatrical effects, built around a fantastic story full of colourful events and idealistic meanings.

Musica Viva’s production highlights the following attractive episodes of the opera:
The Prince and the Birdcatcher
The Prince’s dream of love
The Queen of the Night’s command
The Search for Pamina in captive
The High Priest Sarastro’s Temple
The High Priest’s promise of protection
The test of silence
Pamina’s misunderstanding and frustration
Queen of the Night’s murderous intention
The Birdcatcher finds a wife
The charm of the Magic Flute
The trial of fire and water
The triumph of Wisdom and Brotherhood

Pre-Performance Talk
Nature and characteristics of western opera
Demonstrations on the art of operatic singing
Techniques and creative process of opera production
Brief introduction of the opera The Magic Flute