Die Zauberflöte from Barbe & Doucet

Die Zauberflöte is one of Mozart’s most enchanting works, a fairytale that uses familiar archetypes to ask provocative questions, about religion and love.

Premiered just months before Mozart’s death, Die Zauberflöte in many ways represents a new departure for the composer. Catching the spirit of revolution in the air, Mozart turned his attention for the first time from court opera to popular opera, writing this singspiel (“sung-play”) for a new and much broader audience.

When Prince Tamino sees the beautiful Pamina he falls instantly in love. But she has been kidnapped by Sarastro, so with the help of bird-catcher Papageno he sets out on a quest to find her. Searching for love, Tamino finds much more than he bargained for. Faced with a decision he must choose between darkness and light, order and chaos, duty and desire. Which will it be? Die Zauberflöte is one of the composer’s most enchanting works, a fairytale that uses familiar archetypes to ask provocative and difficult questions about religion, the nature of power, the bonds of family, and of course love.

It has been over a decade since Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte has been staged at Glyndebourne, and this new production by Barbe & Doucet promises to take a fresh and playful look at the troublesome gender politics of Mozart’s late opera. It’s a work whose surface charm – its delightful melodies, lively comedy and colourful cast of characters – conceals a complex and ambiguous piece, one that asks more questions than it answers, particularly in the current political climate.
The beauty of Mozart’s operatic allegory is its adaptability. Whether you want an innocent comedy or something rather more sophisticated, it’s all here!

Genre Opera
Composer Mozart
Stage Director Barbe & Doucet
Orchestra / Band Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment
Conductor Ryan Wigglesworth
Recording location Glyndebourne
TV Director Francois Roussillon