Mozart: Die Zauberflöte

I sometimes think "The Magic Flute" is my favorite Mozart opera. But it is made up of such disparate elements that it's hard for any production to get everything right. Which is perhaps why I own seven recordings of the opera, three audio and four video.
This film from a 1983 Munich production would be my second choice for a video of the opera. The production is really quite lovely. The designs are beautiful, as are the eighteenth-century costumes. The old-fashioned stage elements like painted backdrops, moving set pieces, and trapdoors are used with charm and imagination. The cast is wonderful. Lucia Popp is pretty much a definitive Pamina, with her vocal and physical beauty and her wonderfully expressive singing. Edita Gruberova is a brilliant Queen of the Night, even if the top Fs aren't quite there on this particular evening (live performance, remember). Francisco Araiza is a lyrical and convincing Tamino. Wolfgang Brendel is a strong-voiced, genial Papageno, who keeps the comic shtick within bounds. Kurt Moll is a warm, imposing Sarastro, singing with a flawless legato line. The small parts are also well taken. Gudrun Sieber is a charming Papagena, Jan-Hendrik Rootering is an unusually powerful Speaker, the three ladies are a delight, and the three boys are wonderful. It's a bit surprising to see Monastatos and his henchmen in blackface, but this was before political correctness became universal; in any case, Norbert Orth provides a vivid character. The musical direction is in the capable hands of Wolfgang Sawallisch. I wish he'd taken more time with the slow numbers, but otherwise he turns in a well-paced, stylish performance. There is some messing-about with Act II. I can accept the logic of moving the farewell trio to the beginning of the act, but it seems strange musically to hear it there. I don't really miss the misogynistic duet for the two priests.
My favorite visual representation of the opera is Bergman's television film. No other director so fully realizes both the serious and fanciful sides of the work, and Bergman's visual images are unfailingly wonderful. Things are in good shape musically, though most of the singing is in the good-not-great class. I can live with Bergman's second act adjustments (omitting two numbers and reordering the finale), and I don't mind hearing the work in Swedish.
I have also watched the recently issued DVD of a 2005 Covent Garden production, which I find disappointing. Check out my review.

26 אנשים מצאו ביקורת זאת כמסייעת

An enchanting live recording of an enchanting piece

JOSE J GONZALEZ

נבדק בארה“ב בתאריך 5 באוקטובר 2018

It has two magnificent Slovak sopranos: Popp and Gruberova. The Queen of the Night had been Popp's calling card; by then she had developed into a radiant Pamina. Gruberova was still a formidable Queen. Araiza has a lovely voice employed with great sensitivity. Brendel may not be the ideal Papageno physically but, he is quite resourceful as an actor (and a wonderful musician). Moll probably owned the role of Sarastro in his lifetime. Everding's staging and stage direction was almost as magical as Ingmar Bergman's but, the great Bergman shot in a TV studio. I discovered Sawallisch as a great conductor 50 years ago; by 1983 he had become truly extraordinary. Sadly, Popp, Moll, Everding and, Sawallisch are no longer with us but, they will not be forgotten. I ordered my copy - which plays beautifully - 18th September but, had to wait until 1st October to receive it. Why? I do not know.

6 אנשים מצאו ביקורת זאת כמסייעת

Not My Favorite But Still Quite Good

Chris Reich

נבדק בארה“ב בתאריך 15 בדצמבר 2016

This is not my favorite Magic Flute. I think the Colin Davis conducted production is my favorite. Second, maybe first, depending on my mood is that terrific production with Rene Pape.

I do love this opera and it's hard not to like a production---except I strongly dislike the Met's production which is damaged by being performed in English and is ABBREVIATED. 2 sins. They should have put Taylor Swift in it and Mic'd up everybody. That aside, I like the DVD but some of Mozart's profound ideas get lost. Which again is why I prefer the Colin Davis conducted production.

Feel like I'm talking in circles. This isn't bad, just not the best. I also suspect it's older. Often the singers are drowned out by the orchestra.

2 אנשים מצאו ביקורת זאת כמסייעת

No problem, easy transaction

Alan Carlin

נבדק בארה“ב בתאריך 9 במאי 2021

No problems at all.

נבדק בארה“ב בתאריך 9 בספטמבר 2008

This is a very good performance of The Magic Flute. I must admit, the black-face Monostatos is a little off-putting (what? you can't find a good black tenor for the part?), but the singing is good, and in German (important to me). My favorite version of The Magic Flute is still that of the Düsseldorf Marionettentheater, but since that is not available on DVD, this will have to do.

7 אנשים מצאו ביקורת זאת כמסייעת

נבדק בארה“ב בתאריך 23 בדצמבר 2012

This is Mozart's Magic Flute at its most brilliant form. In fact after seeing the Magic Flute at over 20 opera houses world wide, this production is rated the best ever. The singing is crisp, the acting is superb, Wolfgang Brendel is simply sublime.

7 אנשים מצאו ביקורת זאת כמסייעת

A wonderful performance from the days when opera singers

Mary

נבדק בארה“ב בתאריך 8 בינואר 2017

A wonderful performance from the days when opera singers, like the rest of us, did NOT suffer from metabolic disorder. And could sing beautifully nonetheless.

נבדק בארה“ב בתאריך 14 באוגוסט 2017

Beautiful recording of one of our favorite operas. Flawless performances, great orchestra sound, and very satisfying visually. Love it!

2 אנשים מצאו ביקורת זאת כמסייעת

תרגם את כל הביקורות לעברית

ביקורות מובילות מארצות אחרות

Eddy

Magnífica

נבדק בספרד בתאריך 11 בפברואר 2024

Una excelente representación de la obra de Mozart.

Pierre d'Alun

la magie de mozart

נבדק בצרפת בתאריך 18 בדצמבר 2022

parfait et accompagné par un livret en français

אדם אחד מצא ביקורת זאת כמסייעת

Alberto Del Bene

Qualità ottima

נבדק באיטליה בתאריך 6 באפריל 2018

Sono molto soddisfatto dell'acquisto veramente consigliabile, sia dal punto di vista tecnico che quello artistico. Esecuzione classica senza quelle esagerazioni che spesso si usano attualmente. Grande direttore e cantanti di primissima qualità

אדם אחד מצא ביקורת זאת כמסייעת

名古屋の鉄

Excellent!

נבדק ביפאן בתאריך 26 בינואר 2020

昔、学校や図書館でよくみたものです。
夜の女王の映像つきとしてはこれが白眉。
昔のサヴァリッシュは凄かった。渋谷で観るのとかなり、異なります。

2 אנשים מצאו ביקורת זאת כמסייעת

I. Zaneres

A Magic Magic Flute

נבדק בבריטניה בתאריך 9 בינואר 2016

I must confess that it is not my favourite Mozart Opera, but in searching for Lucia Popp I came upon this version of Zauberflote and ordered it.
I love Popp to bits, and was also pleasantly surprised to find Edits Gruberova in the cast.
The picture quality is very good for the year, the sound is crisp and clear. The sets are imaginative, with moving backdrops laterally and vertically and on one occasion a boat to takes Pamina off stage.
The opening sequence with a rather nasty serpent chasing Tamino is attention grabbing, it is followed by the three servants of the queen of the night who perform a well rehearsed triple act.
The lead singers are as follows :-
Francisco Araza, a clear voiced tenor plays Tamino, the hero of the piece.
Wolfgang Brendel is Papagano, a bird catcher and comic character, he is a strong voiced baritone.
Edita Gruberova performs some great vocal gyrations as The Queen of The Night, she is perhaps a little immature for the part.
Pamina is played by Lucia Popp, she has a unique round tone voice of which I am somewhat enamoured.
Kurt Moll is Sarastro, he has some wonderful base baritone sounds.
The trio of boys who appear from time to time have well chosen contrasting voices which combine beautifully.
I have seen other versions on TV which did not impress me, and did not make the best of the rather convoluted story, so although I only bought this for Lucia Popp, I was delighted with the interpretation and have had to revise my opinion.
The glossy booklet is illustrated sparsely, but has a comprehensive cast list. Arias etc are numbered and timed and are also comprehensively listed separately with a synopsis.
There are also production notes where some omissions and rearrangements are described. Perhaps purists may find this irksome, but not being overly conversant with the piece, I find it works well.

2 אנשים מצאו ביקורת זאת כמסייעת