“It is very much ‘producer's opera’ and it will annoy some people.
I found it fascinating…Lively musical direction, incorporating Rene
Jacobs's superfluous keyboard interjections. Don't miss this visually
enchanting and thought-provoking treat.”
(Gramophone DVD of the Month May 2012)
“This is a wonderful performance…I was more moved and enchanted by this
than by any other Magic Flute I have seen on DVD…[Esposito's Papageno]
sung with glorious abandon, while his acting strikes notes of pathos…Kuhmeier
is as expressive as it's possible to be, without transgressing
Mozart's idiom…The most sensational performance is by [Shagimuratova], the
finest Queen of the Night I have ever heard…This is a noble, ennobling
achievement.”
(BBC Music)
“It is world-worthy; the conception, by South African artist William
Kentridge, emphasizes the concepts of light and dark, exploration and
love…It's endlessly good to look at…Musically, there is also much to
admire…Esposito's Papageno is a well-sung charmer – more serious than
many, deeply sincere…this is a fascinating take on the work that Flute
aficionados will appreciate for plenty of reasons.”
(International Record Review)
“It is very much ‘producer's opera’ and it will annoy some people.
I found it fascinating…Lively musical direction, incorporating Rene
Jacobs's superfluous keyboard interjections. Don't miss this visually
enchanting and thought-provoking treat.”
(Gramophone DVD of the Month May 2012)
From the Queen of the Night's vocal pyrotechnics to Papageno's chirpy birdsongs, The Magic Flute is one of Mozart's most charming and engaging operas. However, its fairytale surface conceals the mysteries of an initiation ritual and a multi-layered plot, packed with allegories to fire up the imagination.
This celebrated production by artist William Kentridge joyfully bursts onto the stage of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, featuring the dazzling Russian coloratura Albina Shagimuratova as the Queen of the Night, and Italian bass Alex Esposito as Papageno, one of the most sought-after artists of his generation.