Mozart - Die Zauberfl?te (The Magic Flute) / Keenlyside, Roschmann, Hartmann, Damrau, Selig, Allen, Sir Colin Davis, Covent Garden
by Sir Colin Davis, David McVicar

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Movie Reviews of Mozart - Die Zauberfl?te (The Magic Flute) / Keenlyside, Roschmann, Hartmann, Damrau, Selig, Allen, Sir Colin Davis, Covent Garden

Movie Review: From Darkness into Light
Summary: 5 Stars

Summary of Mozart - Die Zauberfl?te (The Magic Flute) / Keenlyside, Roschmann, Hartmann, Damrau, Selig, Allen, Sir Colin Davis, Covent Garden

The smaller roles are done well, too. Ailish Tynan has a romp as Papagena; the evil Monostatos is done to vocal and acting perfection by Adrian Thompson, the Queen's Three Ladies are well-matched and appropriately edgy, and the Temple Priests are convincingly sung and acted. This production of Die Zauberfl?te is a dark one. Producer David McVicar and conductor Davis reject the relatively recent transformation of the opera into a Disney-like romp for kids. The comic element in the opera is there, but its philosophical underpinnings--humanity's fitful progress to a higher plane - are paramount. There are still plenty of laughs with the fake dragon that pursues Tamino at the opera's opening and Papageno's funny business with a bird, among other chuckle-inducing scenes. But the production's Stygian backgrounds make for an oppressive setting. When light enters, as in the pomp of Sarastro's entry or the blazing yellow disc of the sun that conquers darkness, the opera's meanings are crystal-clear. Most of the characters wear 18th Century outfits, to comic effect as Monostatos' heavy makeup, lipsticked mouth, and elaborate wig. But there are occasional incongruities: Tamino's smock, the Three Boys' knit sweaters and short pants, and Papagana's mangy fur coat, among others. They're well intregrated into the staging so they don't jar. Nor, aside from the occasional too-tight closeups, does the video direction. In the special features, Davis speaks of the opera's tension between "lighthearted music and the seriousness of the story," and all elements of this production fuse those key aspects in a way that makes this DVD a joy to hear and watch. Dan Davis

Die Zauberfl?te is an all-regions 2-disc set in 16:9 ratio. Sound options include Dolby Stereo and 5.1 Surround. Sung in German with subtitles in English and Spanish. Extras include an illustrated synopsis, a behind the scenes feature of the production, and Sir Colin Davis talking about Die Zauberfl?te

SPECIAL FEATURES:
• Behind the Scenes
• Conductor Sir Colin Davis talks about Die Zauberfl?te
• Illustrated Synopsis of the opera

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