The Magic Flute

We went to the Pacific Symphony concert on Saturday!  :)

There is one more performance on Tuesday.

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

The Saturday night performance will broadcast on Classical KUSC on March 11, 2018.

Music director Carl St. Clair conducted, with stage director Robert Neu.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Magic Flute

Tamino:  John Tessier, tenor

Papageno:  Hadleigh Adams, baritone

Pamina:  Tess Altiveros, soprano

Queen of the Night:  Kathryn Lewek, soprano

Sarastro:  Evan Boyer, bass

Three Ladies:  Amy Shoremount-Obra, soprano, Deborah Nansteel, mezzo-soprano, Julia Benzinger, mezzo-soprano

Monastatos:  Julius Ahn, tenor

Child Spirits:  Members of the Southern California Children’s Chorus

Papagena:  Bridgette Gan, soprano

Speaker of the Temple, Priest, Armed Guard, Slave:  Colin Ramsey, bass

Priest, Armed Guard, Slave:  David Guzman, tenor

Puppet designer:  Robin Walsh

Lighting designer:  Kathy Pryzgoda

Costume designer:  Katie Wilson

Wig and makeup designer:  Ora Jewell-Busche

This was a "semi-staged" opera, which means the orchestra was on stage, instead of being in the pit.  This allowed stage director Robert Neu to put in a lot of creativity.  He also talked during the pre-concert talk with Alan Chapman, how he took the liberty of "contemporizing" the show.  Tamino and Pamina were wearing office attire, Papageno was calling on Alexa to turn on the lights, etc.

I loved how Papageno was breaking the fourth wall all over the place!  :)

At one point he was conducting the orchestra while Carl was holding the magic bells up high!

And of course, the Queen of the Night aria was amazing!  The visual effect amplified the experience, with her huge puppet floating behind her like a guardian angel.

They still have one more performance on Tuesday.  But in case you miss it, you can listen on the replay on KUSC, March 11.