BY HARLEY ROACH | The Statesman Mozart, mixed media and magic mushrooms; The UMD Symphony Orchestra and the UMD Opera Studio roll all three into one show in a unique take on the old classic “The Magic Flute.”
UMD’s upcoming performance adds a modern twist to one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most beloved works by incorporating themes of drug abuse and rehabilitation into a fantastic plot.
“‘The Magic Flute’ is a fairy tale love story,” Alice Pierce, the artistic and stage director of the production, said.
In a conventional production, “The Magic Flute” is a fantasy story set in ancient Egypt. Two young men named Tamino and Papageno are sent by the Queen of the Night, usually portrayed as a goddess, to rescue her daughter Pamina from the high priest Sarastro. Tamino and Papageno must undergo several trials to prove their worthiness and win their respective loves.
“Our production of ‘The Magic Flute’ has a much more modern feel to it. Instead of the classic fantasy idea, we decided to blend a touch of reality into it,” Zach Winkler, who will be playing Tamino, said.
One of the biggest changes that Pierce and Winkler noted are the new incarnations of the characters.
Pamina’s character has been updated from a captured princess into a recovering drug addict, the Queen of the Night to a drug lord and Sarastro to a health guru at a rehab facility.
In addition to character changes, the opera promises to captivate audience members with both sound and unique scenery.
“A few arias will be sung in German, while all the dialogue and chorus numbers will be in English,” Winkler said.
The arias have been preserved in German to maintain the beauty of the music. It’s also easier on both the singers and the listeners since the original language tends to flow better than an awkward English translation.
Since the opera will be held in Weber Hall, the set will be somewhat minimalist. Though there will be no elaborately constructed sets, the production will feature digital effects done by the VizLab, directed by Joellyn Rock.
Though it’s quite a departure from your average “Magic Flute,” the major themes still remain.
“This is a story about love and goodness and how they triumph over hate and abuse,” Pierce said.
The performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. on December 4 and 5. Tickets are $3 for UMD students and $10 for adults, available at the box office or online through the School of Fine Arts.