A new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute,
directed by James Hurley, with a dream cast and chamber orchestra.
Prince Tamino falls in love with Pamina, the kidnapped daughter of the Queen of the Night, and must rescue her. His fantastical journey will transform his understanding of this dream-like world ...
First Half 1 hour
Second Half 50 minutes
Interval lengths will vary by venue
English
James Hurley
Director
Orlando Jopling
Musical Director
Sophie Lincoln
Designer
Jeremy Sams
Librettist
Richard Dowling
Tamino
Gareth Brynmor John
Papageno
Natasha Page
Pamina
Luci Briginshaw
The Queen of the Night
Trevor Eliot Bowes
Sarastro (June)
Edward Hawkins
Sarastro (July-September)
Eleanor Oldfield*
First Lady
Martha Jones
Second Lady
Abbie Ward*
Third Lady
Ben Thapa
Monostatos
Eleanor Sanderson-Nash
Papagena (June-July 6)
Daniella Sicari
Papagena (from July 6)
Lachlan Craig*
First Armed Man / Priest
Henry Wright*
Second Armed Man / Priest
John Ieuan Jones
Papageno (15 June, 3, 6 August)
Philip Clieve
Monostatos (15 June)
Violin I Sijie Chen
Violin II Will McGahon
Viola Christine Anderson
Cello Leo Popplewell / Antonio Novais (Potsdam)
Double Bass Marianne Schofield
Oboe Hannah Condliffe
Clarinet Jernej Albreht
Bassett Horn Rowan Jones
French Horn Francisco Gomez Ruiz / Jon Farey
Bassoon Dominic Tyler
Scene 1
An earnest young prince, Tamino, is pursued by terrifying figures. He faints in terror, and when he regains consciousness finds Papageno, a bird-catcher, by his side. A moment later, three (perhaps familiar?) ladies appear. They present him with a portrait of Pamina (the daughter of their mistress, The Queen of the Night) and tell him of her abduction by the evil Sarastro.
Tamino immediately falls in love, vowing to rescue his new beloved, and when The Queen of the Night arrives she promises her daughter to the young man if he can rescue her. For their quest, the ladies give Tamino a magic flute which has the power to turn sorrow to joy, and Papageno (sent along for the ride) receives a set of magic bells for protection.
Scene 2
In Sarastro’s temple, Monostatos is left alone with the captive Pamina. Papageno arrives (having lost Tamino), and startles Monostatos, who flees. He then announces to Pamina that her mother has sent Tamino to save her, and the two sing about the joys of love.
Scene 3
Meanwhile, Tamino too comes to Sarastro’s temple. A priest tells him that The Queen of the Night is not to be trusted – and that Tamino will understand all when he approaches the temple in the spirit of friendship.
Tamino hears Papageno in the distance, and hurries off to find him, but just as he leaves Papageno and Pamina appear. They are recaptured for a moment, before distracting Monostatos with the Magic Bells and running... straight into Sarastro. Though receiving them kindly, he refuses to return Pamina to her mother.
Monostatos returns with Tamino, and the prince sees Pamina for the first time, the two immediately embracing. Sarastro punishes Monostatos for his lust before announcing that Tamino must undergo trials of wisdom to become worthy as Pamina’s husband. Amid hymns of praise to Sarastro, Tamino and Papageno are blindfolded and led away.
Scene 1
Monostatos goes to kiss the sleeping Pamina, but hides as The Queen of the Night appears and instructs her ladies to find and free Tamino. The Queen wakes her daughter but is enraged by her wavering loyalty, threatening to disown her unless she kills Sarastro.
As she leaves, Sarastro arrives and drives Monostatos away. Pamina begs Sarastro to forgive her mother and he reassures her that revenge has no place in his temple.
Scene 2
Tamino and Papageno begin their trials - the first of which is to be silent. The ladies try to encourage Tamino and Papageno to escape with them, but Sarastro’s Priests intervene and the trial continues. While Papageno gives in, speaking to an Old Woman, Tamino holds true - even when his flute summons Pamina. His silence leads her to believe that he no longer loves her.
Sarastro arrives and instructs the lovers to bid one another a “final farewell.” Papageno is not eligible to continue the trials but the priests grant him one wish. Papageno asks for a glass of wine. The old lady returns, transforming into the beautiful young Papagena he could have had, but she is whisked away.
Scene 3
The ladies wonder if Enlightenment might not be such a bad thing after all, and when Pamina enters, distraught, they prevent her from doing anything rash, convincing her that Tamino truly loves her. Tamino enters and the two join together for his final trial, passing unscathed.
Papageno meanwhile, is desperate at having his lover snatched away from him. No one pays him any attention except the ladies, who remind him about his magic bells, and he uses them to summon Papagena to his side.
In one final attempt to conquer Sarastro, the Queen and Monostatos join forces to break into the temple, but they are foiled. Sarastro presents Tamino and Pamina as the new custodians of light.
Friday 7 June
A return visit to this beautiful manor house in the Herefordshire countryside.
A steep bank makes a perfect natural amphitheatre with the side of the house as a backdrop. Fantastic sightlines and a perfect acoustic.
NOT MANY TICKETS LEFT
Friday 14 June
Our debut at this much-loved theatre.
FEWER THAN 50 TICKETS LEFT
Saturday 15 June
Our début performance in this wonderful theatre.
SELLING WELL - BOOK SOON
Sunday 16 June matinee
Stage and audience will be under cover, in the beautiful Rose Garden amphitheatre, an intimate space with grass embankments and perfect acoustics for live music.
Kelvedon Hall is close to London but surrounded by peace and quiet, with uninterrupted views in all directions. Henry 'Chips' Channon wrote his famous diaries here.
Arrive from 1pm to set up your picnics in the beautiful gardens.
SOLD OUT
The Essex Summer Opera Festival
Picnic in the beautiful grounds of Layer Marney Tower and enjoy the opera in the beautifully renovated Opera Barn.
Performances
7pm Tuesday 18 June
6pm Thursday 20 June
5pm Saturday 22 June
3pm Sunday 23 June
Plus chamber music, a cabaret evening, concerts in the church, talks, primary school performances and performances by our Young Artists
£15 - £85
Boxes available
Book soon to secure your seats.
Thursday 27 June
Our debut in this fantastic venue.
£28 - £60
Sunday 30 June
A return visit to this wonderful festival.
Thursday 4 July
A rare opportunity to visit this lovingly renovated house with formal gardens and parkland set in a beautiful peaceful valley in GLoucestershire.
Bring picnics and enjoy the summer's evening, although the performance will be safely inside the wonderful light-filled barn conversion.
Friday 5 July
We are delighted to be returning to Malvern with our full production of The Magic Flute.
Saturday 6 July
A sunken garden creates the perfect amphitheatre, surrounding by parkland.
The hosts have organised banked seating inside a beautiful specially designed stretch tent for perfect views of the stage.
Bletchingdon Park is a quintessential private English country estate, and this is a unique opportunity to visit.
Bring picnics and friends for a very special evening.
Early bird offer until the end of March
Thursday 11 July
Our debut at this brilliant festival.
Sunday 14 July
Following sold-out performances of Così and Elixir, we're delighted to return for a third year to this beautiful barn.
Part of the Cambridge Summer Music Festival.
Tickets will be available via the festival website.
Sunday 21 July
Our third visit to this beautiful garden in Heronsgate.
Not many tickets remaining.
Thursday 25 July
Forde Abbey is a truly stunning backdrop and we're delighted to return with a full opera this year.
Tickets are already selling well so do book soon for this popular venue.
Saturday 3 August
Returning for a second year to the wonderful Festival Theatre at Hever Castle.
NEW ON SALE
Tuesday 6 August
Thursday 5 September
Saturday 14 September
Watch this space for more details.
Three performances in the Orangerie of the Sans Souci Palace
Thursday 19 September
Saturday 21 September
Sunday 22 September
Email us for more details.
The Magic Flute poster image by Emily Perkins (Instagram: emp3_art)
The Elixir of Love production photos by Lucy J Toms (Instagram: lucyjtomsphotography)
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