The Magic Flute, Production - Jihočeské divadlo

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

A fairy-tale journey to the mystery of light

Premiere 4. 11. 2022

Last season 2024/2025

There is no need to introduce the fascinating artistic personality of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Austrian composer of the High Classical period who also left his mark on the Czech lands. After composing 21 operas that earned him the reputation of a genius throughout Europe, he wrote his last operatic work on a fancifully mystical theme, in which he made perfect use of his refined art of captivating the audience with music while at the same time introducing new and surprising musical images. This work, which has become one of the three most frequently performed operas in the history of music, is The Magic Flute.

In the plot of The Magic Flute the human world becomes intertwined with the world of myths and fables. We follow Prince Tamino’s fascinating journey to rescue an enchanted maiden, during which he defeats darkness and unveils the mystery of light. The work interestingly oscillates between a fairy tale, a parable and a heroic epic, and it is sprinkled with the humour and exaggeration of the Rococo era. His music could be best described as “a musical from the days of wide skirts and tall wigs”. It is brilliant, entertaining, perfectly understandable even to first-time opera goers, and such a concentration of pearls as can be found in the Queen of the Night's coloratura aria or the “pa-pa-pa” duet is probably missing in any other opera.

Our production returns to the original intention of the world premiere of The Magic Flute in 1791, namely to be understandable and entertaining for the widest possible audience, including families with children. This is also the reason for performing the opera in Czech. The directorial concept of Petr Hašek, who has long been involved in theatre for young audiences, breaks down the boundaries between genres and conventions flooding the stage with fantasy scenes, supernatural creatures, and unprecedented costume objects. The result is a very dynamic spectacle with the added bonus offered by the Holektiv dance trio, who introduce elements of the new circus and movement theatre.
Combining the magic of Mozart’s time with a spectacular twenty-first-century setting, this stage work is certain to be a powerful experience for die-hard opera lovers and first-time opera goers, including children.

Libretto: Emanuel Schikaneder
Czech song lyrics: Vojtěch Spurný
Music staging and conductor: David Švec
Director: Petr Hašek
Directing collaboration: Kamila Mottlová
Prose translation: Petr Hašek
: David Košťák
Set design and costumes: Anna Scheffel-Brotánková
: Ján Tereba
Light design: Karel Šimek
Projection: Amador Artiga
Choreography: Kamila Mottlová
: HOLEKTIV (Andrea Benková, Martina Illichová, Karolína Maštalíř Křížková a Eva Stará)
Second conductor: Martin Peschík
Dramaturgy: David Košťák
Choirmaster: Martin Veselý
Tutors: Mikoláš Troup
: Lilija Červená
Stage manager: Michaela Freudenschussová
Assistant of director and help: Lucie Bicanová

Performing

Sarastro: Jaromír Nosek
: Jan Šťáva
Tamino: Peter Malý
: Vincenc Ignác Novotný
Queen of the night: Bronislava Smržová
: Doubravka Novotná
Pamina, her daughter: Markéta Klaudová
: Soňa Godarská
1. lady: Kateřina Hájovská
: Kristýna Kůstková
2. lady: Marie Svobodová
: Dana Šťastná
3. lady: Šárka Hrbáčková
: Jana Piorecká
Papageno: Jakub Hliněnský
: Michal Marhold
Papagena: Vladimíra Janovská
: Marie Šimůnková
Monostatos: Ondřej Koplík
: Michael Robotka
1. genius: Zuzana Bachová
: Kristýna Fílová
2. genius: Tereza Bachová
: Martina Pavlínová
3. genius: Pavla Hubáčková
: Anna Peclová
1. gunman: Marek Žihla
Monk / 2. gunman: Alexandr Beň
: František Brantalík
Spokesman: František Brantalík
: František Hnilička
Dance company - acrobats: HOLEKTIV (Andrea Benková, Martina Illichová, Karolína Maštalíř Křížková a Eva Stará)
Magical animals: Přemysl Filous
: Tomáš Maliniak
: Vít Kolář
: Sbor opery Jihočeského divadla
: Orchestr opery Jihočeského divadla
Concertmaster (violin): Martin Červinka
Concertmaster (cello): Václav Žák

Detail of the performance

Trailer

The production is no longer in the repertoire

Feedback from viewers

19.7.2024

Klára P.

The Magic Flute performed by the South Bohemian Theatre is imaginative, entertaining and funny. The artistic design and costumes are beautiful and the gradual interweaving of the reality of the theatre stage with the world of magic is very interesting. The acting and singing performances were absolutely great, the acrobatic performances were also surprising, and there is nothing to fault in the... Whole text

The Magic Flute performed by the South Bohemian Theatre is imaginative, entertaining and funny. The artistic design and costumes are beautiful and the gradual interweaving of the reality of the theatre stage with the world of magic is very interesting. The acting and singing performances were absolutely great, the acrobatic performances were also surprising, and there is nothing to fault in the whole production. I can only but praise this performance and I highly recommend it to all those spectators who want to enjoy a beautiful theatrical experience.
19.7.2024

Jaroslav K.

With deep thanks ... This interpretation would deserve a large opera house in all respects ... I would remove only a few trivial details... The performance is almost perfect... It is comparable to Prague or Vienna ... Thank you and I call out another of many BRAVO!

The Magic Flute

Performing

The production is no longer in the repertoire

Feedback from viewers

Klára P.

Jaroslav K.