The Magic Flute, an opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was aired live in high definition (HD) from the Metropolitan Opera. This unique initiative provided audiences all around the world with the opportunity to experience the opera in the comfort of their own homes. The live HD broadcast allowed for a truly immersive experience, with stunning visuals and high-quality sound. The Magic Flute tells the story of Prince Tamino's quest to rescue Princess Pamina from the clutches of the evil Sarastro. The opera is known for its beautiful music, intricate set designs, and powerful performances. By broadcasting it live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera aimed to bring this beloved opera to a wider audience and showcase the artistry and talent of its performers.
Many variables can affect Metropolitan Opera Live in HD ticket prices. Admission is likely to be influenced by the venue and program details such as the date and time of the event. Any available VIP or premium seating options can also play a role in determining the cost of admission.
Choose the event and available arrangements that you prefer and use our interactive seating chart to help you find a perfect spot to take in the live entertainment. This professional opera company incorporates some of the best opera voices in the world, plus a symphony orchestra, an adult chorus and a children s chorus.
By broadcasting it live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera aimed to bring this beloved opera to a wider audience and showcase the artistry and talent of its performers. The broadcast was a huge success, attracting millions of viewers from various countries. It was praised for its technical excellence and the ability to capture the magic of a live performance.
The Magic Flute – A Live in HD Met Performance
I’m not much of an opera person. Give me an American musical with its snappy song and dance.
It’s hard to outdo Nancy Kwan in the 1961 movie of Flower Drum Song. Here’s “Grant Avenue”:
Want something more recent? Try Lin-Manuel Miranda in Hamilton‘s “My Shot”:
Now having stated my preference, I have to say I loved the Metropolitan Opera’s broadcast of Mozart’s The Magic Flute I saw this past Saturday in North Carolina. I was so glad to have been invited by wonderful friend Kristine Stiles.
In 2006 the Met began its Live in HD program where it broadcasts in movie theaters around the world live performances of selected operas. You feel as if you’re almost there in the opera house, and what you miss in live vibe is more than made up for in the close-ups you get of the orchestra and the singers plus the intermission interviews backstage with members of the cast, the production crew and the opera managers.
This production is spectacular – literally a spectacle created by Julie Taymor. She likes to put heads on heads, as she does here in her production of The Lion King on Broadway:
In The Magic Flute the Three Ladies have detachable heads they wave around to dreamy effect:
The set design is at every moment spectacular (still the exact word). Here is the staging near the final scene of The Magic Flute:
The guy in the center is Sarastro, presumably the sun god, sung by magnificent bass René Pape.
The various sets, with their gilded busyness, curviness and extravagant lighting with touches of Egyptian shtick, reminded me at many points of the interior of a Cheesecake Factory:
Other famous set designers for this opera include Marc Chagall:
A 1967 performance at the Met of The Magic Flute.
and David Hockney:
A 1981 production at the Met of The Magic Flute.
In the current production, the role of the comic bird catcher Papageno is sung by baritone Markus Werba, and he is fantastic, truly a delight to watch and hear:
Here he is in a fanciful – which is to say drunken – state, dreaming of meeting his Papagena.
The absolute show stealer is the aria in Act Two by the Queen of the Night, sung by the coloratura soprano Kathryn Lewek.
It’s also the background music in the video, posted below.
We both got chills listening to her. I can’t sing a note, so it’s stunning to me to consider how much vocal control this particular aria requires. Superhuman!
This opera premiered in Vienna in 1791. There is a reason it is still being performed over 200 years later – but not because of the plot, which is a bit of mess. I didn’t even know it was supposed to take place in Egypt until well into Act One when mention is first made of Isis and Osiris. I got a hieroglyph-y sense from the set, but Tamino’s outfit and makeup – see title image – made me think he was a samurai, but I was pretty sure the opera wasn’t set in Japan. Obviously, real opera-goers already know the deal. Not me!
The coolest thing I learned from the interviews at intermission came at the end when the hostess said, “Toi, toi, toi” to the singers who were going back out for Act Two. That’s opera-ese for “Break a leg!”
Although you missed the October 14th performance of The Magic Flute, you can catch the holiday encore on either December 12th or 16th. The performance we heard was sung in German with subtitles. In December it will be sung in English. For more information and great visuals, click:
I will definitely go to more Live in HD performances. Here’s the 2017-2018 season schedule:
and David Hockney:
The live HD broadcast of The Magic Flute from the Metropolitan Opera was a groundbreaking event that brought opera into the digital age. It allowed people who may not have had the opportunity to see an opera in person to experience the beauty and grandeur of this art form. With advances in technology, live HD broadcasts of opera and other performances have become more common, allowing even more people to enjoy the magic of the performing arts..
Reviews for "Mozart's The Magic Flute Comes to Life in Live HD Broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera"
1. John - 2/5
I was really excited to watch "The Magic Flute" live from the Metropolitan Opera in HD, but I was ultimately disappointed. The production seemed overly complicated and confusing, with strange sets and abstract costumes that took away from the music and story. The performers also seemed out of sync at times, and the overall direction of the opera felt messy. I appreciate the effort to bring opera to a wider audience through the live broadcast, but this particular performance did not live up to my expectations.
2. Sarah - 1/5
I found "The Magic Flute" aired live from the Metropolitan Opera to be a complete disappointment. The singing was subpar and lacked the emotional depth that I usually associate with opera. The acting was exaggerated and almost cartoonish, making it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level. Additionally, the camera work was distracting, with frequent zooming in and out that made it difficult to focus on the performance itself. Overall, I would not recommend this particular production as a showcase of the beauty and artistry of opera.
3. Michael - 2.5/5
As someone who is relatively new to opera, I was hoping that "The Magic Flute" aired live from the Metropolitan Opera would be a captivating introduction to the genre. While there were moments of brilliance and stunning vocal performances, the overall production felt inaccessible and confusing. The storyline was hard to follow, and the set design, while visually impressive, often overshadowed the performers. Additionally, the camera angles and close-ups were disorienting at times. I believe there are better performances out there for someone looking to explore the world of opera.