In the wall of the Gatehouse pub in Highgate, you will find a boundary stone dated 1791 – the year in which Mozart’s final opera, The Magic Flute was premièred, only nine weeks before his death. Continuing on the theme of milestones, in November 2010, Hampstead Garden Opera will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a new production of The Magic Flute, and also its 20th production in the theatre above the pub, Upstairs at the Gatehouse, its home since 2001.
James Hurley, who directed the double-bill of John Blow’s Venus & Adonis and Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas last November, returns to take charge of The Magic Flute, backed by a familiar team of Rob Mills (set designer), Madeleine Millar (costumes) and HGO’s regular band, the Dionysus Ensemble, under the baton of Music Director, Oliver-John Ruthven.
“The Magic Flute is Mozart's most enigmatic opera”, says Hurley – “a flamboyant blend of comedy and tragedy, mysticism and magic, theatricality and adventure. But how do you bring coherence to these diverse elements? - that’s the challenge for the Director. The focus we’ve chosen for our production is the all-too-human environment of a child's nursery, amidst the enchanted debris of broken dreams and childhood toys – a setting that, in the theatre’s intimate space, will allow our talented singers to explore the complex moral and emotional ambiguities at the heart of the opera”.
“This ’family-centred’ approach is intended to appeal equally to children and their parents,” adds Ruthven. “An additional attraction will be the lively and witty translation by Stephen Fry (written for Kenneth Branagh’s film), which we believe we shall be the first company to perform to a London audience”.
Two exceptionally strong casts, including established HGO principals from earlier productions* and a starry host of outstanding newcomers+, will give ten performances between November 4 and November 14, including three matinées (full details below).
* including Hannah Sawle, Helen Bailey, William Balkwill, Iain Milne, Samuel Queen, Daniel Roddick
+ including Raphaela Papadakis, Viki Hart, Robyn Parton, Andrew Tipple, Christopher Borrett
Evening performances of The Magic Flute are on November 4, 5, 6, 10, 11 12 & 13 at 7.30 pm:
Matinées on Saturday November 6 at 2.30.pm and on Sundays November 7 and 14 at 4.0 pm.
Tickets – November 4 & 5 £18 (concessions £16): all other performances £20 (concessions £18):
18 and under £12 for all performances. All seats unreserved.
Box office: 020 8340 3488.
Further information: Martin Musgrave (martin.musgrave@hgo.org.uk - 07590 567 790)
Website: www.hgo.org.uk
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