Opera Hamilton – Mozart’s The Magic Flute

by Paula Citron
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The Magic Flute
Opera Hamilton
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Directed by Michael Cavanagh
Conducted by David Speers
Starring Colin Ainsworth, Shannon Mercer, Alexander Dobson, Kevin Langan and Audrey Elizabeth Luna
At Hamilton Place on Nov. 1
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Opera Hamilton is literally back from the ashes. The first production of its modest come-back season is a very well sung Mozart’s The Magic Flute with spoken dialogue in colloquial English and music in German. The fanciful fairyland set and costumes from Philadelphia we have seen before but they work.

Colin Ainsworth is an impressive Tamino as is Shannon Mercer as his Pamina. Both singers have beautifully polished voices. Alexander Dobson as Papageno steals the show with all the funny stage business that director Michael Cavanagh has given him. Americans Kevin Langan and Audrey Elizabeth Luna as Sarastro and the Queen of the Night respectively give good sings, although Luna’s coloratura, while formidable, seems a little off pitch.

Maestro David Speers in the pit is glacially slow on both the slow and fast arias, but he deserves kudos for raising the dead in terms of the company,

The Magic Flute continues at Hamilton Place on Nov. 1.