Julie Taymor's Magic Flute

[dfw2sfo]

Anyone seen this production yet? I've never seen The Magic Flute and the Met is mounting a production but it has a few unusual elements. Julie Taymor (Lion King) is producing a more family friendly version (more bright shiny things) that is in English, is abridged (100 minutes vs 3+ hours). She has done this before and the reviews I've read didn't really like her staging. One additional selling point though is that Nathan Gunn is Papageno. Thoughts?

[Kevin Slater]

This isn't new, is it? I saw her Met production a couple years back and really liked the staging, but it's not one of my favorite operas.

 

Kevin Slater

[dfw2sfo]

Not new

 

No, it's not new. I think she's staged it a few times before.

[Guest greatness]

I haven't seen the show but it looks nice.

 

[+ Italiano]

And don't forget how hot Nathan Gunn is!

 

[+ g56whiz]

Buyer beware. I think I read it was a condensed version designed to attract holiday tourists with young children: not the real Die Zauberflote which only on the very first level of meaning could be considered a work for children. The Met's earlier productions by Chagall and even Hockney were pure magic and complete.

 

I wish The Met would bring back Hansel and Gretel or even consider Amhal and the Night Visitors for this market.

 

There! I'll get off the soapbox now.