Prince Tamino has been rescued by the Queen of the Night, and in return agrees to save her daughter Pamina from the enchanting high priest Sarastro. Accompanied by the birdcatcher Papageno and armed with magical musical instruments, he sets off on a quest full of trials and peril.
A thinly-veiled tribute to Freemasonry, Mozart’s perhaps most popular opera is a comedy with philosophical connotations. With a story portraying the education of mankind from chaos to enlightenment, The Magic Flute sees the serious and the comic beautifully intermingle inside a fairytale plot.
This production combines the talents of designer Ruth Paton – who has worked with the RSC, the Royal Opera House, ENO and Opera North – with the innovative director of our acclaimed 2016 Le nozze di FigaroThomas Guthrie, who has seen success at the Royal Opera House and whose ‘imagination knows no bounds’ (Opera Now). Together with the rare chance to see prized maestro Anthony Negus conduct Mozart at Longborough, this is sure to be a special production.
CONDUCTOR ANTHONY NEGUS ESTABLISHES A PULSE AND PALETTE OF COLOURS THAT EXTEND ACROSS THE WHOLE DRAMA, WITHOUT FUSS OR STRAIN, AND WITH EVERY ORCHESTRAL DETAIL CLEAR AND TRUE
The Times
Since his appointment as Longborough’s music director in 2000, Anthony Negus has established a reputation as a maestro worthy of the likes of Bayreuth and Covent Garden, whose ‘conducting is worth the entire evening’ (Guardian). This year we’re fortunate to have him conduct not only a revival of our 2015 Tristan und Isolde but also a new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Sunday 16 July performance: Samantha Clarke performs as Pamina, and James Henshaw to conduct
James Henshaw is an up-and-coming young conductor, and the current chorus master at English National Opera. He has worked with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and English Touring Opera, and is the Music Director of Ashtead Choral Society. He founded and runs his own orchestra in Notting Hill called The Outcry Ensemble, devoted to giving a world premiere at every concert.
James is our assistant conductor to Anthony Negus for The Magic Flute, and on Sunday 16 July he will take up the baton himself - don't miss the chance to see this future star conductor.
Also on Sunday 16 July, the role of Pamina will be performed by soprano Samantha Clarke in place of Beate Mordal.
