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Austin360 blogs > Austin Arts: Seeing Things > Archives > 2011 > November > 07 > Entry
Review: Austin Lyric Opera’s ‘The Magic Flute’
Forget the shadow of financial difficulty that’s been cast over Austin Lyric Opera in the past year or so.
Or at least put that shadow aside for the three hours of ALO’s sunny, delightful turn with “The Magic Flute” which opened Saturday at the Long Center in a production by Milwaukee’s Florentine Opera This “Flute” trades deftly on lightness, maximizing and modernizing the comic content of Mozart’s masterpiece without sacrificing any of the essentials.
Against a spare yet fluid all-white set of platforms, ramps and moving panels that captured projections and lighting designs, an energetic and solidly good cast delivered an animated, fresh-feeling production of the opera that ALO began with 25 years ago.
With his spot-on comic timing and physical antics, David Adam Moore is the show stealer as Papageno, and his strong rich baritone nicely balance the shenanigans. Likewise, tenor Doug Jones comically amps up his turn as Monostatos while also never forsaking his very good vocal performance.
The lovely, clear-voiced lyric soprano Hanan Alattar gives her Pamina just enough of moxie to modernize the classic sweetheart role. And as Tamino, tenor Arthur Espiritu garnered a bravo Juliet Petrus does well as the Queen of the Night, competently delivering the challenging and famous Der Hölle Rache aria. James Moellenhoff makes a commanding Sarastro with his full round tones.
If the set by Noele Stollmack actd as a simple white canvas, Christianne Myers’ inspired, whimsical costumes — with sartorial quotes from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” among other contemporary references — more than supply the visual gratification.
Conductor Richard Buckley expertly took a “less is more” approach to Mozart’s beautiful score Stage director James Marvel gives the cast plenty of waggish gestures and movements with just the right hints of camp to make for a terrifically performed fantasy.
A sparkling, joyful performance from start to finish, this “Magic Flute” has plenty of aplomb.
“The Magic Flute” continues 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr. Tickets: $19-$135. www.austinlyricopera.org.
Image: David Adam Moore as Papageno and Jamie-Rose Guarrine and Papagena. Photo by Mark Matson for Austin Lyric Opera.
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By Kevin Langan
November 8, 2011 1:53 PM | Link to this
Of course we share Sylvia Nancy McClain’s wish that it would be preferable to not sell the ALO building which is a beautiful home and school for Austin’s music community. However, the deficit at ALO must be addressed in order for the opera company to continue to thrive at the level it has achieved thanks to all work that Joe McClain and Walter Ducloux did in its formative years and the people who have carried on what they built. If there is some way Austin’s residents or corporations could erase that debt for the company then it is more likely the building could remain, but as I understand it, time is short, and the greater tragedy would be to see ALO cease to operate entirely and that would be a major loss to the community here.
Sally and I have seen ALO become a major regional opera company in the United States in the 25 years we have been coming here to do various productions. A company like ALO thrives because it’s patrons who are gifted financially are able and willing to promote and support it through the best of times and the worst of times. It seems ALO has a major challenge facing it currently. It is our fervent hope that the community will step up and do what it can to ensure productions like the current Magic Flute will continue to enrich this vibrant community and keep the art form alive and well for future generations in such a rich and diverse city as Austin has become. Kevin Langan & Sally Wolf
By Sylvia Nancy McClain
November 8, 2011 1:10 AM | Link to this
Opera is a culmination of all of the arts. Enjoy the chance to see it while it still is available in Austin. the Magic Flute is for the whole family. Bring your kids next weekend.
By Sylvia Nancy McClain
November 8, 2011 12:46 AM | Link to this
I wrote an op-ed commentary as the former wife of the former General Director and founder of the Austin Lyric Opera, Joe McClain. I am not sure if it will be published, but it is a plea for the opera to keep the very special and very specialized building rather than selling it. I am sure that Sally Wolf and Kevin Langan, presently part of the cast and part of the original cast, will agree with me and join in encouraging Austin residents in supporting the opera’s unique, irreplaceable home and school.