Find out what critics have had to say about the Royal Opera House’s revival of David McVicar’s production of Mozart’s opera.
Broadway World: ***** “Every scene brings fresh ideas and new wonders. We open with an immense dragon puppet flying around the stage to the consternation of our hero Tamino. After he faints away, three ladies (Alexandra Lowe, Gabrielė Kupšytė and Kseniia Nikolaieva) rescue him. Tamino (Filippe Manu) awakens and with new friend Papageno (Gyula Orent) begins a Homeric quest to rescue his heart’s desire Pamina (Anna Prohaska).The dragon isn’t seen again but such exquisite staging is a statement of intent for what it is come from designer John MacFarlane.”
The Guardian: *** “But there’s a spirit of sheer entertainment trying to break out in this show. The cast and musicians just need the excuse to release the Magic Flute into the weird masonic pantomime it really is, whose meaning lies in its messy inconsistencies, not its sunlit coherence. For the rest of the run, get down to Covent Garden and be the audience that helps Emelyanychev get Mozart’s party started.”
London Unattached: “Returning to this production of the Magic Flute has been a pleasure: it has retained its magic for me, and added a layer of intellectual intrigue. Despite everyone’s familiarity with the score, this cast brings exuberance, ensuring that for the audience it feels like the drama is unfolding for the first time.”
The Stage:**** “Sensitive revival of an accomplished production”
The Independent: **** “There are a few opera productions that don’t grow stale, they just get better, and so it is with director David McVicar’s version of The Magic Flute.”
The Magic Flute continues to play at the Royal Opera House until the 28th January 2023.