The Magic Flute Is Dec. 16, 2023, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: The Magic Flute is the Dec. 16, 2023, Met Opera Saturday broadcast, airing as second of the 2023-2024 season's 27 Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

Kathryn Lewek reprises the Mozartian role of the Queen of the Night in the 2023-2024 season's eighth revival of Julie Taymor's 2006-2007 holiday presentation of The Magic Flute; in the 2022-2023 season, the American coloratura soprano sang the role in Simon McBurney's new production of Die Zauberflöte; illustration by Jenny Kroik ("The Making of an Opera: 'Die Zauberflöte' ('The Magic Flute') at the Met," The New Yorker, May 18, 2023): Kathryn Lewek, Soprano, via Facebook June 14, 2023

The Magic Flute is the Dec. 16, 2023, Met Opera Saturday matinee radio broadcast, airing at noon, 12:00 p.m., Eastern Time, as the third of the 2023-2024 Met Opera season's lineup of 27 Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

The 2023-2024 Met Opera season stages The Magic Flute as a special holiday presentation that offers an abridged, English-language adaptation of Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791). The Magic Flute opens Friday, Dec. 8, at 7:00 p.m. and closes Saturday, Dec. 30, at 6:00 p.m.

The Magic Flute receives 13 performances in the 2023-2024 season. The Mozartian musical fairy tale's 13 performances are distributed between two casts. The first cast is scheduled for the musical fairy tale's first three performances (opening night, Friday, Dec. 8, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time; Sunday matinee, Dec. 10, at 2:00 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m.), the fifth and sixth performances (Saturday matinee radio broadcast, Dec. 16, at 12:00 p.m. noon; Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m.), the eighth and ninth performances (Friday, Dec. 22, at 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 26, at 7:30 p.m.), the 11th performance (Thuesday, Dec. 28, at 11:00 a.m.) and for one of the two Saturday, Dec. 30 performances.

The second cast participates in the fourth (Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m.), seventh (Thursday, Dec. 21, at 7:30 p.m.), the 10th (Wednesday, Dec. 27, at 11:00 a.m.) and one of the two Saturday, Dec. 30, performances.

The Metropolitan Opera stages the 2023-2024 performances of The Magic Flute as the eighth revival of Julie Taymor's 2006-2007 new production. The Metropolitan Opera premiere of the abridged, one-act, English-language adaptation of Die Zauberflöte took place Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, in the opera company's 343rd performance of Mozart's musical fairy tale. The American stage and film director, costumer designer and playwright had made her Met Opera debut in the premiere of her new production.

Patrick Furrer conducts the first cast's performances, which include the Saturday matinee radio broadcast on Dec. 16. The Swiss conductor had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, in the 2021-2022 season's holiday presentation of The Magic Flute.

Patrick Furrer shares the conductorship with Gareth Morrell, who conducts the second cast's four performances. The British conductor had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, in the opera company's 516th performance of Lucia di Lammermoor by 19th-century Italian bel canto opera composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848).

Janai Brugger is the first cast's Princess Pamina, the Queen of the Night's daughter who discovers that her mother is unnice and who reciprocates love with Prince Tamino. The American operatic soprano had made her Metropolitan Opera debut Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, as Liù in the opera company’s 291st performance of Turandot by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Janai Brugger shares the role with Liv Redpath, the second cast's Pamina. The American soprano leggero had made her Met Opera debut in 2021 in the Met Orchestra Chamber Ensemble at Carnegie Hall.

Kathryn Lewek sings the scheming Queen of the Night in all of the first cast performances as well as in the second cast's first three performances. In the 2023-2024 season, the American coloratura soprano makes her eighth reprisal of the role in which she had made her Met Opera debut Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013, in the holiday version of Julie Taymor's production, during the opera company's 413th performance of Die Zauberflöte.

Kathryn Lewek shares the role with Jeni Houser, who sings the Queen of the Night in one of the Saturday, Dec. 30, performances. The American operatic soprano reprises the role in which she had made her Met Opera debut, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020.

Piotr Buszewski appears as the first cast's Prince Tamino, who receives a magic flute from the Queen of the Night's Three Ladies, passes his wisdom initiations with High Priest Sarastro and reciprocates Princess Pamina's love. The Polish tenor had made his Met Opera debut Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, as the Chevalier de la Force in the opera company's 60th performance of Dialogues des Carmélites by French composer and pianist Francis Poulenc (Jan. 7, 1899-Jan. 30, 1963).

Piotr Buszewski shares the role with the second cast's Prince Tamino, Joshua Blue. The British-American tenor had made his Met Opera debut at Peter in 2021 in Porgy and Bess by American composer and pianist George Gershwin (Sept. 26, 1898-July 11, 1937).

Rolando Villazón appears as the first cast's Papageno, a bird-catcher gifted with safety-ensuring, enchanted silver bells by the Queen of the Night's Three Ladies and reciprocally loved by bird woman Papagena. The Mexican operatic tenor had made his Met Opera debut Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003, as Alfredo in the opera company's 893rd performance of La Traviata by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Rolando Villazón shares the role with Alexander Birch Elliott, the second cast's Papageno. The American baritone had made his Met Opera debut Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, as Zurga in the opera company's 14th performance of Les Pêcheurs de Perles by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Patrick Carfizzi appears as the first cast's Speaker of the Temple, who apprises Prince Tamino of Sarastro's benevolence and of the Queen of the Night's untrustworthiness. The American bass-baritone had made his Met Opera debut Christmas Eve, Friday, Dec. 24, 1999, as Count Ceprano in the opera company’s 736th performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto.

Patrick Carfizzi shares the role with the second cast's Speaker, William Guanbo Su. The Chinese bass had made his Met Opera debut in 2022 as the Jailer in Puccini's Tosca.

Brindley Sherratt sings the first cast's Sarastro, High Priest of the Temple of Wisdom. The Lancastrian British bass had made his Met Opera debut Friday, May 1, 2015, as Trulove in the opera company’s 24th performance of The Rake’s Progress by Russian-born, 20th-century composer, conductor and pianist Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (June 17, 1882-April 6, 1971).

Brindley Sherratt shares the role with James Creswell, the second cast's Sarastro. The American bass had made his Met Opera debut Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, as Ashby in the opera company's 108th performance of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West.

Brenton Ryan appears as the first cast's Monostatos, Sarastro's servant, who schemes with the Queen of the Night and who desires the Queen's daughter, Princess Pamina. The American tenor had made his Met Opera debut Friday, April 22, 2016, as Pedrillo in the opera company’s 69th performance of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail.

Brenton Ryan shares the role with the second cast's Monostatos, Thomas Capobianco. The American tenor had made his Met Opera debut in 2022 as the Officer in Ariadne auf Naxos by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949).

Met Opera's holiday presentation of The Magic Flute in the 2023-2024 season marks the eighth revival of Julie Taymor's 2006-2007 production of the whimsical Mozartian opera. The Met Opera premiere of Taymor's "Abridged, One Act Version of The Magic Flute / Die Zauberflöte" took place Friday, Dec. 29, 2006, in the opera's 365th performance at the opera company. The American stage and film director, costume designer and playwright had made her Met Opera debut Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, in her new production of Die Zauberflöte, which occurred in the opera company's 343rd Zauberflotian performance.

Julie Taymor's production team comprises George Tsypin, set designer; Donald Holder, lighting designer; and Mark Dendy, choreographer. Michael Curry co-designed the puppets with Julie Taymor.

American stage designer George Tsypin had made his Met Opera debut Monday, March 19, 2001, in the Met Opera premiere of The Gambler by Russian-Soviet composer, conductor and pianist Sergei Prokofiev (April 23, 1891-March 5, 1953). American theater, opera and dance lighting director Donald Holder, American production designer Michael Curry and American choreographer Mark Dendy had made their Met Opera debuts, alongside Julie Taymor, in the 2004-2005 season.

Wagner's Tannhäuser airs Dec. 23 as the 2023-2024 season's third Saturday matinee radio broadcast. Met Opera's 10th revival of Otto Schenk's 1977-1978 production broadcasts at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Kathryn Lewek reprises the Queen of the Night role in the 2023-2024 season's eighth revival of Julie Taymor's 2006-2007 new production; the American coloratura soprano skipped the production's revival in the 2022-2023 season and, instead, opted for singing the Queen of the Night in the 2022-2023 season's new production of Die Zauberflöte directed by Simon McBurney; illustrations by Jenny Kroik ("The Making of an Opera: 'Die Zauberflöte' ('The Magic Flute') at the Met," The New Yorker, May 18, 2023): The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook May 23, 2023

Acknowledgment

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

Dedication

This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved blue-eyed brother, Charles, who guided the creation of the Met Opera and Astronomy posts on Earth and Space News. We memorialized our brother in "Our Beloved Blue-Eyed Brother, Charles, With Whom We Are Well Pleased," published on Earth and Space News on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, an anniversary of our beloved father's death.

Image credits:

Kathryn Lewek reprises the Mozartian role of the Queen of the Night in the 2023-2024 season's eighth revival of Julie Taymor's 2006-2007 holiday presentation of The Magic Flute; in the 2022-2023 season, the American coloratura soprano sang the role in Simon McBurney's new production of Die Zauberflöte; illustration by Jenny Kroik ("The Making of an Opera: 'Die Zauberflöte' ('The Magic Flute') at the Met," The New Yorker, May 18, 2023): Kathryn Lewek, Soprano, via Facebook June 14, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=766082441938672&set=a.192742489272673

Kathryn Lewek reprises the Queen of the Night role in the 2023-2024 season's eighth revival of Julie Taymor's 2006-2007 new production; the American coloratura soprano skipped the production's revival in the 2022-2023 season and, instead, opted for singing the Queen of the Night in the 2022-2023 season's new production of Die Zauberflöte directed by Simon McBurney; illustrations by Jenny Kroik ("The Making of an Opera: 'Die Zauberflöte' ('The Magic Flute') at the Met," The New Yorker, May 18, 2023): The Metropolitan Opera, via Facebook May 23, 2023, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02YrcHz2hmfQmmTvQpcJe81SY4kZw7V9bcgG29qZQugJPUbfyd7TpdXJAfEZTiedA8l

For further information:

“Debut: Alexander Birch Elliott.” [Met Performance] CID: 357052 Les Pêcheurs de Perles {14} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/14/2018.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357052

“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: Gareth Morrell.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 331336 Lucia di Lammermoor {516} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/20/1999.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=331336

"Debut: James Creswell." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357024 La Fanciulla del West {108} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/17/2018.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351491

"Debut: Janai Brugger." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354619 Turandot {291} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/02/2012.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354619

“Debut: Kathryn Lewek.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355218 Die Zauberflöte {413} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/28/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355218

"Debut: Rolando Villazón." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 350787 La Traviata {893} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/21/2003.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=350787

"Debuts: L'ubica Vargicová, Volker Vogel, Kwangchul Youn, Anna Christy, Aiden Bowman, Jason Goldberg, Lev Pakman, Julia Welsh, Julie Taymor, Donald Holder, Michael Curry, Mark Dendy.” 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

"Debuts: Olga Guryakova, Sergei Aleksashkin, Olga Savova, Yuri Laptev, Franco Pomponi, Emmanuel Di Villarosa, Robert Brazil, Temur Chkheidze, George Tsypin, Georgi Alexi-Meskhishvili." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 333540 Metropolitan Opera Premiere The Gambler {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/19/2001.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=333540

“Debuts: Patrick Carfizzi, Gloria Watson, Vladimir Jurowski.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 332264 Rigoletto {736} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/24/1999.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=332264

Kathryn Lewek, Soprano. "I couldn’t let our awesome production of Die Zauberflöte at The Metropolitan Opera become too distant a memory without sharing these stunning illustrations by The New Yorker's Jenny Kroik, who beautifully captured the behind-the-scenes of our production when we were still in the rehearsal process! -- #TheNewYorker #Mozart #DieZauberflote #Queenofthenight #Opera #Operasinger #Illustration #Operasoprano #TheMagicFlute #MetOpera." Facebook. June 14, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/kathrynlewek/posts/pfbid02DujiCnZUQkx9s59PJG58ghac9P3aGJA26yASroAgcARR9Ab6CpyhgE3ZXCjFL8Psl

Kathryn Lewek, Soprano. "Kathryn Lewek Queen of the Night. Fun fact: The soprano Kathryn Lewek has performed as the Queen of the Night more than three hundred times around the world!" Facebook. June 14, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=766082441938672&set=a.192742489272673

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Available via The New Yorker @ https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-making-of-an-opera-die-zauberflote-the-magic-flute-at-the-met

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Marriner, Derdriu. "The Magic Flute Is Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2022, Saturday Radio Matinee." Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 19, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-magic-flute-is-christmas-eve-dec-24.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-magic-flute-is-dec-9-2017-met-opera.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-magic-flute-is-dec-28-2019-met.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-magic-flute-is-dec-29-2018-met.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-magic-flute-is-mets-dec-18-2021.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/met-opera-calendars-2023-2024-season.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/09/met-opera-newly-stages-carmen-and-la.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-metropolitan-opera-performs-18.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/metropolitan-opera-revives-12.html

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Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2023/11/saturday-matinee-broadcasts-include-six.html

The Metropolitan Opera. "In advance of the opening of Die Zauberflöte, The New Yorker sent illustrator Jenny Kroik behind the scenes to document the process of bringing Simon McBurney’s new production to life. Explore more illustrations here: https://bit.ly/3BPOvDB Maestro Nathalie Stutzmann conducts Mozart’s beloved fable, recently named a New York Times Critic’s Pick, through June 10: bit.ly/3NZK1ig In cinemas (bit.ly/3y39jGV) and Live at Home (bit.ly/3eFQHFR) on June 3. Illustrations: Jenny Kroik / The New Yorker." Facebook. May 23, 2023.
Available via Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/pfbid02YrcHz2hmfQmmTvQpcJe81SY4kZw7V9bcgG29qZQugJPUbfyd7TpdXJAfEZTiedA8l

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Available @ https://www.metopera.org/about/press-releases/the-metropolitan-opera-announces-its-202324-season-with-the-most-new-works-in-the-companys-modern-history/

"Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Abridged, One Act Version of The Magic Flute / Die Zauberflöte." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351755 Premiere of abridged version Die Zauberflöte {365} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 12/29/2006.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351755