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Mozart - Die Zauberflote (Riccardo Muti) [2006]

Posted By: Sowulo
Mozart - Die Zauberflote (Riccardo Muti) [2006]

Mozart - Die Zauberflote (Riccardo Muti) [2006]
NTSC 16:9 (720x480) VBR Auto Pan&Scan | Deutsch (LPCM, 2 ch); (DTS, 6 ch) | 5,85+6,91Gb (2*DVD9)
Classical | Label: DECCA | Sub: Deutsch, English, Francais, Espanol, Chinese | 176 min

This Magic Flute (part of the M22 project) is charming and delightful, a sheer joy. It achieves just the right balance between the fairytale and spiritual elements of the singspiel and is brimming with inventiveness. The bright pop-up-book colours and toyshop imagery perfectly represent the pantomime aspect of this "magic opera" which meshes well with the altogether more serious business of Sarastro's realm of Enlightenment wisdom. I love the burlesque touches which occur throughout and the comic scenes around Papageno which make this such a happy and constantly droll performance.
The staging is visually striking. I love the day-glo skies and the moving mountains which glide across the stage, cleverly creating different acting areas. And the Three Ladies got up as Tyrolean hill walkers. Indeed almost all the new images which appear as the story unfolds bring a smile to the lips and create new pleasure in seeing this imaginative and clever stage-craft work its magic.
I don't understand the use of `primitive' quasi-African statues. The accompanying booklet suggests we are in a world of venerable ideas "with their roots thousands of years in the past" as much as the world of 18th century Enlightenment. It also suggests that much of the imagery is supposed to be childlike. I could imagine a child painting something like these messy totems, and they don't look particularly out of place in this production.
The cast is exceptionally strong. Paul Groves is a suitably heroic, noble and sympathetic Tamino; particularly strong in his more impassioned `romantic' moments. Genia Kühmeier is a gorgeous Pamina, everything she sings sublime. When she's singing it's difficult to focus anywhere else. She has superb vocal control and real beauty in her sweet moments, and can also produce strong and forceful singing without any loss to her refinement of tone. A magical performance.
René Pape oozes charisma and tremendous presence as Sarastro, a powerful and authoritative High Priest. Christian Gerhaher is a charming and energetic Papageno with a great comic touch. (I must say, though, that he should have had more than one feather stuck in his hair - several lines of dialogue are rendered meaningless otherwise. But that's hardy his fault). He's a strong, characterful baritone with stylish musicianship (see his "Mann und Weib…" duet with Pamina). His "Pa-pa-pa-pa" scene is quite delightful.
The stunning coloratura Diana Damrau is a real star with extraordinary vocal control in her more pyrotechnically frenzied moments and brilliantly acted throughout: as the heart-broken mother of Act I who faints into Tamino's arms at "Ach helft! Ach helft!" as she tells despairingly of her daughter's abduction; all spitting rage, malevolence and vengeful fury in the fearsome Act II "Der Hölle Rache". This is forceful, note-perfect singing of the highest order. (Sadly she has now officially "retired" this role from her repertoire.) She also gets the best frocks - only right for a Queen - which, from a distance (which is, after all, where the audience is) - look like they're made of feathers. Which would explain why she employs Papageno.
Riccardo Muti conducts the ever-wonderful VPO at a good pace and with a transparency that brings out the finest touches of orchestral detail.

Mozart - Die Zauberflote (Riccardo Muti) [2006]

Performer:
Papageno - Christian Gerhaher
Pamina - Genia Kühmeier
Tamino - Paul Groves
Königin der Nacht - Diana Damrau
Sarastro - René Pape
Papagena - Irena Bespalovaite
Monostatos - Burkhard Ulrich
Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor
Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor - Riccardo Mutti
Staged by Pierre Audi

MWDZRM