Do you want to attend an opera, but don’t know where to start? Have some young children you'd like to introduce to the wonderful world of opera?
Well, the Metropolitan Opera has you covered with their annual holiday production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. A proven favorite for audiences of all ages, here are five reasons why The Magic Flute is the perfect introduction to opera!
1. It’s Sung (and Spoken) in English
There's no language barrier with The Magic Flute, which the Metropolitan Opera presents in an English translation by J.D. McClatchy, as well as providing subtitles on the back of every seat for all performances. The Magic Flute is also a singspiel—a precursor to operetta and the modern musical—with spoken dialogue scenes that help keep the plot easy to follow.
2. It’s Short
We get it. Those four-hour Wagner epics can be daunting, especially for little ones. Fortunately, the Met presents The Magic Flute in an abridged version, running just 90 minutes. Performances are also offered at a variety of early curtain times: 6 PM and 7 PM for evening shows, and 12 PM and 2 PM for matinees. This means you can experience an unforgettable performance and still be home before the kids’ bedtimes!
3. The Story
One thing that has kept The Magic Flute popular for centuries is its classic story: A prince is sent on a mission to rescue a princess from a wicked sorcerer, accompanied by a zany bird-catching sidekick, with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing along the way. The fantastical tales features an array of engaging characters: the sympathetic young lovers Pamina and Tamino, the intensely theatrical Queen of the Night, and the scene-stealing bird-catcher Papageno, who is one of the most beloved characters in all of opera.
4. The Stagecraft
Directed by Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor (who oversaw the long-running Broadway hit The Lion King), The Magic Flute features her signature blend of spectacular puppetry, colorful scenery, and unique costumes—and a whimsical fantasy aesthetic that brings the opera to vibrant life on the Met stage. From its enchanted woodlands with dancing bears, to the grand and imposing Temple of the Sun, The Magic Flute is a spectacle that will leave all ages in awe.
5. The Music
Mozart is considered one of the greatest opera composers in the classical canon, and The Magic Flute certainly shows why. The score showcases a wide variety of music, ranging from Papageno’s folksy tunes, to Tamino and Pamina’s beautiful and heartfelt arias, to the high-flying coloratura of the Queen of the Night—whose Act II aria is one of the most famous excerpts in all of opera (you've definitely heard it before).
From the Queen’s high Fs down to Sarastro’s low Es more than five octaves down, The Magic Flute showcases the full scope of the human voice, arranged in solos, duets, trios, and more, and supported with a colorful orchestration which shows off all the sections of the orchestra, one by one, and all at once. The Magic Flute is not only a masterful musical score in its own right, it's also a perfect introduction to the various musical components that make up an opera.
READ: 7 Operas You Should See If You're A Musical Theatre Fan
Whether you’re looking to go to the opera for the first time, or you’re a long-time opera-goer looking to introduce a friend of any age, The Magic Flute at the Met is the perfect choice this holiday season. And if you're taking young ones with you, the Met is offering free special activities for kids to help enhance their opera-going experience, including downloadable crafts and in-house face painting, activity books, photo opportunities, and more.
Visit MetOpera.org for more information and tickets, and check out the student and young audience discounts.
