Summary: Met Opera assistant conductor, pianist and vocal coach Bryan Wagorn played the glockenspiel onstage in Die Zauberflöte in the 2022-2023 season.
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| In the 2022-2023 season, Met Opera assistant conductor, pianist and vocal coach Bryan Wagorn played the glockenspiel onstage in Simon McBurney's new production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte; photo by Dario Acosta: NAC Arts Alive / Arts Vivants du CNA, via Facebook Dec. 12, 2018 |
Canadian pianist and vocal coach and Met Opera assistant conductor Bryan Wagorn played the glockenspiel onstage in the 2022-2023 season's new production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte.
Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791) set his musical score for Die Zauberflöte ("The Magic Flute") to a German libretto by Emanuel Schickaneder (Sep. 1, 1751-Sep. 21, 1812), stage name of Bavarian baritone, impresario and playwright Johann Joseph Schickeneder. The allegorical opera reflected the composer and librettist's interest in the fraternal organization of Freemasonry.
The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Die Zauberflöte happened Friday, March 30, 1900, at the opera company's first opera house, located at 1411 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan's Garment District. Mozart's fairytale opera was sung in Italian. The translator of the original German libretto to an Italian libretto, Il Flauto Magico, is listed as "unknown" by the Metropolitan Opera Archives Database (MetOpera Database).
Die Zauberflöte received five performances in the 1899-1900 season. Its opening took place Friday, March 30, 1900. The second through fifth, closing performances were given Wednesday, April 4; Saturday, April 7; Monday, April 9; and Thursday, April 12.
The 2022-2023 Met Opera season's roster included a new production of Die Zauberflöte by Simon McBurney. The English director made his Met Opera debut Friday, May 19, 2023, along with his new Mozart production in the opera company's 478th performance of Die Zauberflöte.
McBurney's new production received nine performances in the 2022-2023 season. McBurney's new staging opened Friday, May 19, 2023. The second through ninth, closing performances took place Monday, May 22; Thursday, May 25; Saturday, May 27; Wednesday, May 31; Saturday, June 3; Tuesday, June 6; Thursday, June 8; and Saturday, June 10.
Canadian pianist and vocal coach Bryan Wagorn, who has been Met Opera's assistant conductor since the 2013-2014 season, appeared onstage in all nine performances of the McBurney production as a glockenspiel player. As an example of a type of metallophone, the glockenspiel (German: Glocken, "bells" + Spiel, "play") has metal as its sound-producing body. The percussion instrument's metal bars are arranged in a keyboard layout. Modernly, a small keyboard incorporated into the casing replaces mallets, the glockenspiel's traditional striking accessory.
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| keyboard glockenspiel made of wood and other materials, probably British, second half of 19th century; gifted 1889 to Metropolitan Museum of Art by Joseph William Drexel (Jan. 24, 1833-March 25, 1888): Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Domain, via metmuseum (Metropolitan Museum of Art) |
Canadian pianist and vocal coach Bryan Wagorn, who has been Met Opera's assistant conductor since the 2013-2014 season, appeared onstage in all nine performances of the McBurney production as a glockenspiel player. As an example of a type of metallophone, the glockenspiel (German: Glocken, "bells" + Spiel, "play") has metal as its sound-producing body. The percussion instrument's metal bars are arranged in a keyboard layout. Modernly, a small keyboard incorporated into the casing replaces mallets, the glockenspiel's traditional striking accessory.
Bryan Wagorn appreciates that Simon McBurney transforms him into an "acting" participant by removing him from the orchestra pit for a visible, onstage playing of the glockenspiel, according to Wagorn's discussion in The Metropolitan Opera's Tuesday, June 6, 2023, tweet. Being onstage expanded Wagorn's learning curve by filling in his lack of prior training in "movement memory and acting memory," which do not pertain to orchestra pit occupants. As such, his experience with onstage versatility has instilled in him "much more appreciation for what the singers do.
Wagorn explains that the first hearing of the glockenspiel occurs in the Act I finale, in which Monostatos, overseer of Sarastro's temple, pursues Papageno and Princess Pamina. The glockenspiel sounds Papageno's magical protective bells, which had been given to him by the Three Ladies and which now need to charm Monostatos.
Mozart's music for the glockenspiel is "really beautiful," observes Wagorn. Mozart's virtuosity as a pianist explains his "showcase" of the glockenspiel player in Die Zauberflöte.
Wagorn relates a famous anecdote about Mozart as glockenspielist. The opera's librettist, Emmanuel Schikaneder, sang the role of Papageno in the opera's premiere and in subsequent performances. Mischievous Mozart slipped into a performance to prank Schickaneder during Papageno's Act II aria. He inserted passages where the glockenspiel was supposed to be silent and he was silent where the glockenspiel was to be sounded. Finally, Papageno stated: "Ah, the bells are broken!"
Die Zauberflöte numbered as the second of two new productions in the 2022-2023 season that called for Wagorn as a soloist. In December 2022 and January 2023 he soloed onstage as piano-playing Boleslao Lazinski in David McVicar's new production of Umberto Giordano's Fedora.
Learn more about the glockenspiel, the instrument that represents Papageno’s bells in Die Zauberflöte! Soloist and Assistant Conductor Bryan Wagorn discusses the glockenspiel and his role in Simon McBurney’s production.
— Metropolitan Opera (@MetOpera) June 6, 2023
Final three performances: https://t.co/xHVs9Lhijl pic.twitter.com/e8uRGRjQY9
Acknowledgment
My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.
Image credits:
Image credits:
In the 2022-2023 season, Met Opera assistant conductor, pianist and vocal coach Bryan Wagorn played the glockenspiel onstage in Simon McBurney's new production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte; photo by Dario Acosta: NAC Arts Alive / Arts Vivants du CNA, via Facebook Dec. 12, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/NACArtsAliveVivants/photos/pb.100063759514437.-2207520000./10157110979211686/
keyboard glockenspiel made of wood and other materials, probably British, second half of 19th century; gifted 1889 to Metropolitan Museum of Art by Joseph William Drexel (Jan. 24, 1833-March 25, 1888): Metropolitan Museum of Art, Public Domain, via metmuseum (Metropolitan Museum of Art) @ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/500558
Met Opera assistant conductor Bryan Wagorn discusses his onstage appearance as a glockenspielist in Simon McBurney's new production of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte in the 2022-2023 season and relates an amusing anecdote about Mozart's mischief as a glockenspielist in a performance during the fairytale opera's premiere season: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter June 6, 2023, @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1666070901371162626
Canadian pianist and vocal coach Bryan Wagorn, who has been a Met Opera assistant conductor since the 2013-2014 season, describes the glockenspiel and situates the percussion instrument in his onstage appearance in Simon McBurney's new production of Die Zauberflöte in the 2022-2023 Met Opera: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter June 6, 2023, @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1666070901371162626
For further information:
For further information:
Barron, James. "He’s No Singer, but He’s Onstage at the Metropolitan Opera." The New York Times > Newsletter New York Today. Jan. 27, 2023.
Available @ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/nyregion/pianist-metropolitan-opera-fedora.html
Available @ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/27/nyregion/pianist-metropolitan-opera-fedora.html
"Debuts: Thomas Oliemans, Ruth Sullivan, Simon McBurney, Nicky Gillibrand, Gareth Fry, Rachael Hewer." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357905
New Production Die Zauberflöte {478} Metropolitan Opera House: 5/19/2023, Broadcast (Broadcast Debuts: Thomas Oliemans, Ruth Sullivan, Simon McBurney, Nicky Gillibrand, Gareth Fry, Rachael Hewer). Metropolitan Opera House May 19, 2023 New Production>
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357905
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357905
Lindsey, Rebecca. "Joseph W. Drexel and the Beginnings of the Met's Musical Instrument Collection." Metropolitan Museum of Art > Blogs > Of Note. Jan. 30, 2014.
Available 2 https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/of-note/2014/joseph-drexel
Available 2 https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/of-note/2014/joseph-drexel
Marriner, Derdriu. "Born July 7, 1887, Marc Chagall Designed Die Zauberflöte at Met Opera." Earth and Space News. Monday, July 1, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/07/born-july-7-1887-marc-chagall-designed.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/07/born-july-7-1887-marc-chagall-designed.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Bryan Wagorn Played Piano as Lazinski in Fedora in 2022-2023 Season." Earth and Space News. Thursday, July 17, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/07/bryan-wagorn-played-piano-as-lazinski.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/07/bryan-wagorn-played-piano-as-lazinski.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Marcella Sembrich Created Met Opera's Queen of Night March 30, 1900." Earth and Space News. Monday, March 29, 2021.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/03/marcella-sembrich-created-met-operas.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/03/marcella-sembrich-created-met-operas.html
Marriner, Derdriu. "Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte Is June 3, 2023, Saturday Radio Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, May 29, 2023.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/mozarts-die-zauberflote-is-june-3-2023.html
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/mozarts-die-zauberflote-is-june-3-2023.html
Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Keyboard Glockenspiel." Metropolitan Museum of Art > Art > The Collection > Musical Instruments.
Available @ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/500558
Available @ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/500558
Metropolitan Opera. "Die Zauberflöte: 'Schnelle Füße, rascher Mut'". YouTube. May 21, 2023.
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpL-Lp4sQ_s
Available @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpL-Lp4sQ_s
Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "Learn more about the glockenspiel, the instrument that represents Papageno’s bells in Die Zauberflöte! Soloist and Assistant Conductor Bryan Wagorn discusses the glockenspiel and his role in Simon McBurney’s production. Final three performances: http://bit.ly/3NZK1ig. Twitter. June 6, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1666070901371162626
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1666070901371162626
“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Die Zauberflöte.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 24080 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Die Zauberflöte {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/30/1900.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=24080
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=24080
NAC Arts Alive / Arts Vivants du CNA. "YAP alum (2003-2005) Bryan Wagorn, pianist and vocal coach, and Assistant Conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, will teach piano at the Young Artists Program in June 2018!
"In the 2013-2014 season, Mr. Wagorn made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Assistant Conductor in their new production of Falstaff. He has performed with James Levine and the Met Chamber Ensemble at Carnegie Hall as solo pianist and chamber musician, and in recital for the George London Foundation, the Marilyn Horne Foundation and Richard Tucker Foundation, and also serves on the music staff of the Glyndebourne Festival.
"A participant at the Marlboro Music Festival, Mr. Wagorn has also been engaged as Staff Coach at the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, and has served on faculty of the National Arts Centre Orchestra's Summer Music Institute directed by Pinchas Zukerman. He made his solo recital debut at New York's Carnegie Hall in 2009, and has since made over a dozen Carnegie Hall appearances. He has performed two extensive tours with Jeunesses Musicales de Canada and performed chamber music with members of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.
"Mr. Wagorn holds degrees in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada, and the University of Ottawa (Bachelor of Music), the Mannes College of Music (Masters of Music), and he Manhattan School of Music (Doctorate of Musical Arts). He is a former graduate of The Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program." Facebook. Dec. 12, 2018.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/NACArtsAliveVivants/photos/pb.100063759514437.-2207520000./10157110979211686/
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/NACArtsAliveVivants/posts/pfbid054x6R5ttUHrP1jxw2j6ZGnFRp8xzgihMAAHrdmVqYsVTY37Lkc8CccXt9a8uSqv4l
Available via Facebook @ https://m.facebook.com/NACArtsAliveVivants/posts/10156361186001686/
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/NACArtsAliveVivants/photos/pb.100063759514437.-2207520000./10157110979211686/
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/NACArtsAliveVivants/posts/pfbid054x6R5ttUHrP1jxw2j6ZGnFRp8xzgihMAAHrdmVqYsVTY37Lkc8CccXt9a8uSqv4l
Available via Facebook @ https://m.facebook.com/NACArtsAliveVivants/posts/10156361186001686/
"New Production: Die Zauberflöte." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357905
New Production Die Zauberflöte {478} Metropolitan Opera House: 5/19/2023, Broadcast (Broadcast Debuts: Thomas Oliemans, Ruth Sullivan, Simon McBurney, Nicky Gillibrand, Gareth Fry, Rachael Hewer). Metropolitan Opera House May 19, 2023 New Production>
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357905
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357905
Opera News. "Style: Notable Player. Designer Alexander Olchcreates a tux-free recital look for collaborative pianist Bryan Wagorn, an assistant conductor at the Met." Opera News, vol. 80, no. 7 (January 2016).
Available @ https://www.metguild.org/Opera_News_Magazine/2016/1/Departments/Style__Notable_Player.html
Available @ https://www.metguild.org/Opera_News_Magazine/2016/1/Departments/Style__Notable_Player.html
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| Canadian pianist and vocal coach Bryan Wagorn, who has been a Met Opera assistant conductor since the 2013-2014 season, describes the glockenspiel and situates the percussion instrument in his onstage appearance in Simon McBurney's new production of Die Zauberflöte in the 2022-2023 Met Opera: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter June 6, 2023, @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1666070901371162626 |
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