The Magic Flute Is the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Mozart’s The Magic Flute is the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering fifth of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

The Magic Flute, the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English language, family friendly holiday version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, airs Dec. 29, 2018, as the fifth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 19, 2018

Wolfgang Mozart’s The Magic Flute is the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the fifth of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

The Magic Flute is presented as the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English language, family friendly holiday version of Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791). American literary critic and poet Joseph Donald “J.D.” McClatchy Jr. (Aug. 12, 1945-April 10, 2018) was responsible for the 100-minute English language adaptation.

Mozart composed his fairy tale opera in the singspiel (“sing-play”) style of spoken and sung dialogues. He set his music to a German libretto by German stage director Johann Joseph Schickeneder (Sept. 1, 1751-Sept. 21, 1812), known as Emanuel Schikaneder. Mozart previously collaborated with Schikaneder on another fairy tale singspiel, Der Stein der Weisen, Oder die Zauberinsel (The Philosopher’s Stone, or the Enchanted Isle).

Die Zauberflöte premiered Sept. 30, 1791, at Schikaneder’s theater, the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden, also known as Wiednertheater, near the center of Vienna, northeastern Austria. Mozart conducted the premiere and the opera’s second performance.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season premiere of The Magic Flute takes place Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Including the season premiere, eight holiday performances are scheduled for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

Five performances take place in December. The month’s four additional performances occur Saturday, Dec. 22, at 8 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 27, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m. Saturday’s performance airs as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s fifth Saturday matinee radio broadcast.

Three performances are offered in January. The month’s performances take place Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 3:30 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; and closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5, at 8 p.m.

The Magic Flute has an estimated run time of 1 hour 42 minutes. The Metropolitan Opera reduces Mozart’s two-act German opera to one act for the opera company’s English language holiday version.

Harry Bicket conducts all performances. The British conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened in Rodelinda by German and British baroque composer George Frideric Handel (Feb. 23, 1685-April 14, 1759).

Erin Morley appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night. The American coloratura soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as the First Madrigal in Manon Lescaut by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Erin Morley also appears as Woodbird in Siegfried by German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883) and as Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites by French composer and pianist Francis Poulenc (Jan. 7, 1899-Jan. 30, 1963).

Sydney Mancasola appears as Pamina for the Thursday, Jan. 3, performance. The American soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 30, 2018, as Frasquita in the opera company’s 2018-2019 season premiere of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Kathryn Lewek appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as the scheming Queen of the Night. The American coloratura soprano reprises her Metropolitan Opera debut role. Her Queen of the Night debut happened Dec. 28, 2013, in the opera company’s 413th performance of Die Zauberflöte.

So Young Park appears as the Queen of the Night for the Thursday, Jan. 3, performance. The South Korean soprano’s solitary January appearance marks her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Ben Bliss appears in all performances as Tamino, a prince who finds love with Pamina at the end of his quest for wisdom. The American tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 2, 2014, as Vogelgesang in the opera company’s 410th performance of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

Brenton Ryan appears in all December and one January (Tuesday, Jan. 1) performances as Monostatos, slave of head priest Sarastro. The American tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 22, 2016, as Pedrillo in the opera company’s 69th performance of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Brenton Ryan also appears as Spoletta in Puccini’s Tosca.

Mark Schowalter appears as Monostatos in January’s last two performances (Thursday, Jan. 3; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5). The American tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Feb. 19, 1999, as the Young Servant in the opera company’s 85th performance of Elektra by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Mark Schowalter also appears as the Chaplain in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites.

Nathan Gunn appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as Papageno, a birdcatcher who finds happiness with Papagena. The American operatic baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 3, 1995, as one of the three traders in the opera company’s eighth performance of The Ghosts of Versailles by American classical composer John Corigliano (born Feb. 16, 1938).

Duncan Rock appears as Papageno in one January (Thursday, Jan. 3) performance. The Australian baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 2, 2017, as Schaunard in the opera company’s 1,306th performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Duncan Rock reprises his debut role as Schaunard.

Alfred Walker appears in all performances as the Speaker. The American bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 16, 1998, as Grégorio in the opera company’s 294th performance of Roméo et Juliette by French composer Charles Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Morris Robinson appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as Sarastro, head priest of the council of priests of Isis and Osiris. The American bass’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 16, 2002, as the Second Prisoner in the opera company’s 217th performance of Fidelio by German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven (bapt. Dec. 17, 1770-March 26, 1827).

Peixin Chen appears as Sarastro in the Thursday, Jan. 3, performance. The Chinese bass’s solitary January appearance marks his Metropolitan Opera debut. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Peixin Chen also appears as Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of The Magic Flute revive Julie Taymor’s production. The American film, opera and theater director’s staging debuted as a new production Oct. 8, 2004, in the opera company’s 343rd performance of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.

Julie Taymor serves as the production’s director and costume designer. She is credited with Michael Curry as puppet designers. The production team also comprises George Tsypin, set designer; Donald Holder, lighting designer; and Mark Dendy, choreographer. The revival stage director is David Kneuss.

The takeaway for The Magic Flute as the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast is that the Metropolitan Opera’s English language, family friendly holiday version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte airs as the fifth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

Nathan Gunn, who won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition in 1994, reprises Papageno in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook April 19, 2018

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

The Magic Flute, the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English language, family friendly holiday version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, airs Dec. 29, 2018, as the fifth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 19, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160146382080533/

Nathan Gunn, who won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition in 1994, reprises Papageno in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook April 19, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160437319305533/

For further information:

“Debut: Brenton Ryan.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356444 Die Entführung aus dem Serail {69} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/22/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356444

“Debut: Erin Morley.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352344 Manon Lescaut {211} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/09/2008.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352344

“Debuts: Alexander Soddy, Angel Blue, Duncan Rock.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356747 La Bohème {1306} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/02/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356747

“Debuts: Alfred Walker, Bertrand de Billy.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 330528 Roméo et Juliette {294} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/16/1998.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=330528

Debuts: Hector Vásquez, Peter Van Derick, Nathan Gunn, Christine Goerke, Carol Meyer, Kemal Khan.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 319890 The Ghosts of Versailles {8} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/3/1995.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=319890

“Debuts: Johannes Martin Kränzle, Benjamin Bliss, Martin Gantner.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355664 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg {410} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/02/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355664

“Debuts: Kobie van Rensburg, Zachary Vail Elkind, Harry Bicket, Stephen Wadsworth, Thomas Lynch, Peter Kaczorowski.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351094 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Rodelinda {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/02/2004.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351094

“Debuts: Monte Pederson, Mariana Karpatova, Margaret Cusack, Mark Schowalter.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 331426 Elektra {85} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/19/1999.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=331426

“Debuts: Philippe Castagner, Morris Robinson.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 350403 Fidelio {217} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/16/2002.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=350403

Marriner, Derdriu. “La Fanciulla del West Is the Dec. 22, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 17, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/12/la-fanciulla-del-west-is-dec-22-2018.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “The Magic Flute Is Dec. 9, 2017, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 4, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-magic-flute-is-dec-9-2017-met-opera.html

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Now a holiday tradition, Julie Taymor’s beloved production of Mozart’s enchanting fairy tale returns in its abridged, English-language version for families. . . .” Facebook. Feb. 15, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120780533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Grand Finals Concert is Sunday, April 29! . . . .” Facebook. April 19, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160437319305533/

“New Production: Die Zauberflöte.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351036 New Production Die Zauberflöte {343} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/08/2004.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351036