Opera Pacific Presents 'Magic Flute'

Performance dates are January 27, 31, February 2, 2008. Costumes are executed by San Diego Opera Costume Shop and designed by Zandra Rhodes.

Fantasy and delight reign supreme in this eye-popping, colorful production of Mozart's masterpiece! Visually and aurally stunning, this Magic Flute leads the audience on a thrilling journey through the darkest night (always illuminated with sparkling stars) into a dawn of daylight and love. Wonderful arias – including the Queen of the Night's gasp-inducing coloratura showcase – highlight the enchanting proceedings. Sung in German with English translation projected above the stage.

Opera Pacific continues its 22nd season with this production of Mozart's final opera. The Magic Fluteopened in 1791. The opera was produced as a commission for librettist Emmanuel Schikaneder's failing theater company, Theater auf der Wieden. The critical success of the original production (which also starred Schikaneder as Papageno) brought new life to the theater and simultaneously reached out to a new audience.

Noted for its fairy tale influences and classic symbols of good versus evil, The Magic Flute follows the love story of the young prince Tamino (Chad Shelton) and princess Pamina (Nicole Cabell) - the beautiful daughter of the Queen of the Night (Luz de Alba Rubio), Tamino attempts to rescue Pamina after learning of her kidnapping by the high priest Sarastro. The Queen of the Night gives Tamino a magic flute for protection, and then sends him and Papageno (a bird catcher sung by Rod Gilfry) to find her daughter. It is not until after both men face tests of extreme elements that Tamino and Pamina are united. The Magic Flute ranges from the ultra dramatic to the highly comic. Presented in the form of Singspiel, it includes both singing and spoken dialogue.

Described by the North County Times as "an ideal introduction to opera for children" this production was first seen in San Diego in 2001, and again in 2006, with costumes by renowned British textile designer Zandra Rhodes. Known for her bright pink hair, dramatic designs, and past work with clients such as Sir Elton John and Princess Diana, Rhodes' colorful costumes heighten the magical setting and help "conjure a primal realm, somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, and darkness and light, in which hopes, fears and desires present themselves to human consciousness and conscience" (Sign on San Diego). It was due to Rhodes' theatrical style that she was approached for this project. It was beginning of Rhodes work for the stage. Most recently, she designed the English National Opera's 2007 production of Aïda.

Dr. Michael Hampe is directing this production as well as having been a part of the set design team with Alberto Andreis, having worked on the San Diego Opera's The Magic Flute in both 2001 and 2006. He has worked on productions throughout the world including Milan's Teatro alla Scala, Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Opera Australia, the Edinburgh Festival, Florence's Maggio Musicale, the Schwetzingen Festspiele, and the Pesaro Rossini Festival. In addition, Dr. Michael Hampe works as a professor at the Cologne Music Academy and is also an expert in international theatre construction. Hampe has also published several books, including Alles Theater, a collection of essays on various aspects of theatre and opera.

An incredible international cast gathers at Opera Pacific for The Magic Flute. The 2005 Winner of the BBC Singer of the World, Nicole Cabell will join the company as Pamina. Chad Shelton also joins the cast of The Magic Fluteafter singing the role Don José in Opera Pacific's Carmen last February. Uruguyan soprano Luz del Alba Rubio reprises her Queen of the Night after making her European debut in the role in 1999 at the Summerfestival in Frankfurt and Mainz. Southern California local turned international star, Rod Gilfry, sings Papageno. -- www.operapacific.org