The Royal Opera's Die Zauberflote has quickly established itself as a clear and classic staging of Mozart's great late work. David McVicar's interpretation portrays beautifully both the story and the wealth of Enlightenment themes of this favourite masterpiece: the search for wisdom and virtue has seldom had so beguiling a presentation.

From such detail as the extraordinary flying machine of the three boys to the panoramic night - which finally gives way to blazing sun - this is a production of impressive imagery. It brings alive the contrasts of darkness and light, the comic and the impassioned, the down-to-earth and the mystic. With this revival Colin Davis and David Syrus share the conducting for a score rich in well-known music. There is the memorable directness of Papageno?s songs and the virtuoso coloratura of the Queen of the Night, while the lyrical arias of Tamino and Pamina complement the stately music of Sarastro and the temple. A fine cast of singers both new and returning to the production will make this an especially good revival of one of opera's greatest works.

Sung in German with English surtitles

News: Published on Sunday 22 November 2010 at 17:55