The Magic Flute | Komische Oper Berlin & 1927 | Festival 2015 #2 

The time-machine which was, in combination, Edinburgh Festival Hall and Mozart's Die Zauberflöte (Written a year before his death) from Komische Oper Berlin/1927 yesterday evening was a conspiracy of magical overload. 1920's themed costumes and make-up, a giant serpent, Papageno's ever-present black cat, enormous wheel-filled heads and myriad mythic creatures, it was everything a great show should be; one which hurls its audience between highs and lows, between awe and excitement, removing the listener from their previous existence to another time and place entirely. Mozart's music, of course, is utterly and astonishingly beautiful, played with such conviction by the orchestra, almost unseen in its pit, the plot fantastical, full of Masonic imagery, childish and playful, yet a virtuoso masterpiece. Even to one familiar with various recordings; to hear the orchestra play and the singers, sing was completely and joyously overwhelming from the beginning to the very end. Unlike any opera you may have experienced previously, this production had as its stage and scenery an awesome fantasy animation, with which the players interacted in ways you would not think possible, using a cleverly designed backdrop with trapdoors and costumes onto which the animations were projected. Players were able to appear in various places in the vertical backdrop, as well as on the stage and in four of the theatre boxes, only to quickly reappear somewhere else and so the viewer's heads were constantly kept busy, scanning up and down, left to right. An English translation above the stage told the story and ensured that the plot was accessible. When Königin der Nacht began to sing, I found myself in the unlikely situation of having, instantly, fallen completely in love with a giant spider which filled the backdrop in its entirety; the depiction of The Queen Of The Night. I have never, ever heard anything so beautiful and I was as smitten as Tamino was with Pamina at the very first sight. If you get a chance to see this, don't even think about it. Just do it. It will be one of the best gifts you will ever give to yourself. Bekämen doch die Lügner alle ein solches Schloß vor ihren Mund: Statt Haß, Verleumdung, schwarzer Galle bestünde Lieb’ und Bruderbund! W. A. Mozart - 1790 (Thus it has always been).

I wish I could have seen this live! I hope there's a full video.

OH! I hope the record and sell this! I really want to see the whole thing!