Interview
Mozart’s “Magic Flute” – an introduction by Sir Simon Rattle Mozart’s “Magic Flute” from Baden-Baden
With a memorable performance of Mozart’s Magic Flute, Sir Simon Rattle opened the first Easter Festival in Baden-Baden in March 2013. The Financial Times spoke of a “top-drawer cast”: “Pavol Breslik is all you could wish for in a Tamino, Michael Nagy’s Papageno is charismatic and lithe, Kate Royal gives Pamina subtle complexity as well as grace.”
The Canadian Robert Carsen has directed productions for almost every major opera house. He is fascinated by the complexities in the Magic Flute: “It is completely designed around opposites. Day and night, love and hate, man and woman, the hero Tamino and the simple Papageno.” Musically, too, the Magic Flute has an infinite variety – and given the immense popularity of the opera, this wealth is often overlooked. Sir Simon Rattle says: “Let’s not forget what a raging masterpiece the Magic Flute is, and how different it was from anything anybody had done before – even Mozart.”
Then there is the added attraction of a special première: the Berliner Philharmoniker had never performed the opera live and in its entirety before. Only three studio recordings – under Sir Thomas Beecham in the 30s, Karl Böhm in the 60s, and Herbert von Karajan in the 80s – were previously released. A grand tradition which is continued with this recording.
Berliner Philharmoniker
Sir Simon Rattle
Dimitry Ivashchenko
Pavol Breslik
Kate Royal
Michael Nagy
© 2013 EuroArts Music International
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