After 50 years of operatic productions and concerts in the area, Peterborough Opera are going all nostalgic this year, performing Mozart’s The Magic Flute – their first opera 50 years ago!
Mozart’s magical opera tells the story of a prince and a bird-catcher seeking true love and meaning, a queen seeking revenge for her daughter’s kidnapping, and a temple of priests and initiations. The cast is led by Tom Rushton (Tamino), Daisy Jackson (Pamina), Joseph Gawley (Papageno), Karen Davies (Queen of the Night) and Martin Muir (Sarastro). The production is directed by Marian Porter, with Kate Wishart as Musical Director.
Prince Tamino travels to a land in search of adventure. After getting attacked by a serpent, he meets Papageno (a bird-catcher) and a Queen, attended by three feisty ladies. The Queen shows him a picture of her kidnapped daughter, Pamina, and he instantly falls in love with her, and sets out on a quest to rescue her from the evil kidnapper, Sarastro. The Prince and Papageno arrive at a temple and find Pamina and Sarastro. Sarastro sees the love blossoming between Pamina and Tamino, and sets a series of tasks for the rescuers, in order to prove their worth.
Pamina is later visited by the Queen and ordered to kill Sarastro. Meanwhile, Tamino and Papageno are still completing initiations, assisted by three mysterious spirits. Pamina visits Tamino, but as he’s not able to talk, she leaves in despair, thinking he no longer loves her! Whilst contemplating suicide, the three spirits stop her and reassure her of Tamino’s love.
Will Pamina and Tamino be reunited? Will Papageno ever find his true love? And who is the bad guy in this story – the Queen or Sarastro?
For more information about Peterborough Opera's production, 50th year celebrations and future events, visit our website, or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram