DVDs:

	Mozart - Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) / Keenlyside, Roschmann, Hartmann, Damrau, Selig, Allen, Sir Colin ... Mozart, Simon Keenlyside BBC / Opus Arte, 2003 average customer review:based on 35 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

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


It All Works Together on this Disk

Like all works of art, opera is the sum of its parts. Opera joins music, both sung and played, acting, both physical and verbal, costumes, settings, and lighting. A video disk of an opera adds camera work and editing. What I found remarkable about this disk is that the total is greater than the sum of its parts. Yes, there is fine singing and playing. The acting is expressive and appropriate. There are quirky and specific costumes, often funny. Glorious sets (the Masonic set and the sun both stand out). Miraculously the lighting looks fine in the video. I can only assume that the light was stunning to the live audience. Having the light work both recorded and live is not so simple because the human eye and the camera see differently. Everyone who watched this disk with me walked around for a couple of hours happily dazed by our experience, whistling and singing excerpts.

for more information click here

Another Magic Flute?--yes, this one's worth it

Another Magic Flute? So, what makes this one different--why should you bother with it?

Diana Damrau is the prettiest Queen of the Night that I've ever seen--and she can sing--oh, can she sing. She sings those famous Queen arias a tad slower than many have done, and she sings so clearly you can make out every word. Her performance--her singing, outstanding acting, great costume, and unworldly beauty are reason alone for seeing this Flute.

But there's much more. Will Hartmann as Tamino has a gorgeous voice, and can I say it: he is manlier than most Taminos. A perfect match for him is the lovely Dorothea Roschmann, a voluptuous Pamina who acts convincingly and sings with an elegant voice that Mozart would relish.

Simon Keenlyside is a real Papageno with all the cages, tricks, and simple attraction that makes a Papageno that we all love. Sarastro is sung by Franz Josef Selig whose rich bass reminded me at times of Kurt Moll.

The costumes are beautiful, yet not distracting. The hairstyles seemed a bit strange at first, but I think they contribute to the otherworldliness that Mozart was creating here.

It's sung in German, with English and Spanish subtitles.
The Bonus includes a slide show synopsis of the opera--this would be useful to explaining the storyline to newcomers.
The Bonus also includes a photo gallery of the cast, and interviews with director David McVicar and conductor Colin Davis who explains what the genius of Mozart means to him.

I saw only the DVD released in 2003, but the Blu-Ray edition should be worth seeing, as the costumes, scenery, close-ups and singing and acting are worth seeing at their best.

for more information click here

wonderful performers

When I saw Diana Damrau performing the Queen of The Night, I was breathless!!! I first saw her through you-tube, so I decided to buy this dvd. It's a pitty that they decided to publich on hd dvd instead of bluray...


From Darkness into Light

What an incredible portrayal of what is, in my opinion, Mozart's most beautiful opera. My love of this DVD began with the overture, with beautiful shots of the orchestra. Now, for the singing:

Everyone in this production is amazing. The show-stealer is Dorothea Roschmann, as Pamina, who plays this character as if the role was made just for her. She is innocent, yet knowing, and her search for truth gives her layering that not all singers playing Pamina can properly delineate. Brava to her and her beautiful, rich, emotional voice. Simon Keenlyside is just as marvelous, with an awkward yet strong presence as Papageno. He makes the audience laugh at him, pity him and root for him all within the same performance. Diana Damrau takes the Queen of the Night arias to a new level, adding her own shading to these songs and acting with great emotion and in-your-face anger that is very entertaining to watch. The other singers are equally talented, and round out the cast perfectly.

With the exception of sometimes poor intonation among the three young boys and the unfortunately unflattering costume that Pamina wears throughout the second act, this production is nearly perfect. I highly recommend that all fans of Die Zauberflote see this DVD for themselves.

for more information click here

Near Perfection if not already achieved!

Sir Colin Davis has done it again! The genius has made another beautiful interpretation of the one of Mozart's final pieces. I may be biased since Die Zauberflote is my favorite opera, but this is a fantastic performance! The cast is magnificent, especially Diana Damaru as the Queen of the Night (my reason for the purchase). However Tamino and Pamina both give memorable performances. Papageno, however sticks out as one of the most memorable performances. He gives both humor and drama where needed, and has perfect control over all of his movements and voice.

Both the set and lighting design are stunning. The cinematography is tasteful, in that you see the production as both a movie and a staged opera (or Singspiel). I have no complaints at all about this dvd!

Excellent work!!!

for more information click here

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

products you might be interested in

recommendations

My Opera collection- best productions and singers
Home Opera: Mozart, Part I -- "The Magic Flute"
Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)
Best Mozart Opera Recordings
Opera DVDs

roschmann

	Mozart - Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) [HD DVD] Mozart - Le Nozze di Figaro Handel - Rodelinda / Roschmann, Chance, Palmer, Nilon, Robson, ... Mozart - Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) / Keenlyside, Roschmann, ... Mozart - Cosi Fan Tutte / Barenboim, Roschmann, Kammerloher, Bruera, ...