The Magic Flute at Lyric Opera

Chicago On the Aisle - Recommended

"...Jörg Zimmermann’s set design is pristinely simple and has some cool, time-tested touches, such as the air-ship the Three Boys tool around in. The restaging by director Matthew Lata, in the spirit of Everding, takes a light touch regarding the romance of the Prince and Princess and their tests of character. Masonic symbolism is at a minimum. Papageno takes his comical lack of bravery directly into the delighted audience. And the presence of many children onstage is a sure sign the show is pitched to a broad age group, with a serene avoidance of both high seriousness and low comedy."

ChicagoCritic - Highly Recommended

"...This is Mozart’s opera for das Volk. It’s meant to have something in it for everybody: spectacle and humor for the commoners, elegance and a strong moral compass for the elite; as such, it truly is a wonderful opera for neophytes. It has both relatively simple music (much of Papageno’s fare) as well as some truly breathtaking virtuosic moments (the aforementioned aria of the Queen, “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen”). And as Mozart is truly the master of melody and countermelody, everything is a joy to listen to. So, if you’re a grizzled opera veteran, it will be fun to go back to the tried-and-true basics; and if you’re trying to get someone hooked on one of the most enjoyable and most expensive drugs du jour, this would be an excellent place to start."