Vancouver Opera launches its 2023–2024 season on October 21st with the full-scale production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Originally produced for Toronto’s Canadian Opera Company, and directed by Diane Paulus, this production is a fairytale within a fairytale, immersing audiences in a magical, wild journey of high drama and whimsical delight featuring one of opera’s most famous characters, the Queen of the Night. Making her Vancouver Opera debut in the role is Grammy-award winning, Audrey Luna who has graced many stages including Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera where she set the world record for singing the highest written note.
The Magic Flute weaves a captivating tale of love, courage, and enlightenment through a seamless blend of intricate music and a whimsical storyline. Ashlie Corcoran, the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, is the Revival Director for this Vancouver Opera production. Conductor Tania Miller makes her VO debut leading the Vancouver Opera Chorus, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, and the soloists in this incredibly popular and celebrated Mozart opera.
This playful and stylized production of The Magic Flute begins at a garden party in 1791 where a performance of Magic Flute is being staged! It’s instant magical immersion for audiences, and the start of a wild journey of high drama and whimsical delight. Armed with an enchanted instrument, Tamino rescues the kidnapped Princess Pamina, and the pair face trials, tribulations, and the wrath of Pamina’s mother, the vengeful Queen of the Night. But like any great fairytale—and this is among the greatest—light triumphs over darkness, and the young pair chart a path towards wisdom, truth, and love. Audiences will be transported to a storybook world of fantastical creatures, delightfully imaginative costumes, starry skies and garden mazes, and some of Mozart’s most sublime, soul-stirring music.
“We are thrilled to open our 2023-2024 season with this extraordinary and magical opera classic by one of history’s greatest composers, Mozart, which is sure to enchant Vancouver audiences,” said Tom Wright, Vancouver Opera General Director. “Vancouver Opera last presented this masterpiece a decade ago and we are certain audiences will be eager to see this production, cast and creative team we have assembled. This is an incredible ensemble bringing together company debuts and former company members. Owen McCausland, alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio, has been in high demand since his career began. Kirsten MacKinnon has captured the attention of audiences across North America and Europe and in 2017 was a finalist in the MET vocal competition. It’s also exciting to see how former company members have advanced their career since last performing with VO and we are thrilled to have Audrey Luna perform with us this season.”
The Magic Flute runs for four performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street, October 21, 26 & 28 at 7:30 pm & October 29, 2023 at 2:00 pm. The Vancouver Opera 2023-2024 season also includes Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti, February 10–18, 2024 and George Bizet’s Carmen, April 27, 2024 – May 5, 2024.
For show details, season subscriptions and single tickets visit vancouveropera.ca
The Magic Flute is sung in German with English SURTITLES™ projected above the stage.