Lyric Opera of Chicago to Present THE MAGIC FLUTE

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a new production of The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's beloved, enchanting opera about the triumph of good over evil.

The Magic Flute opens on Saturday, December 10, with eleven performances through January 27 at Lyric's Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $39 for adults and $20 for children and are available now at lyricopera.org/Flute or at 312-827-5600. Performances are in German with projected English translations.

In Mozart's final opera, Pamina (Christiane Karg), daughter of the Queen of the Night (Kathryn Lewek/Lyric debut), has been captured by the high priest Sarastro (Christof Fischesser/Lyric debut). Prince Tamino (Andrew Staples/Lyric debut,12/10-1/8; Matthew Polenzani, 1/12-1/27) falls in love with a portrait of Pamina he receives from the queen's three ladies (Ann Toomey, Annie Rosen, Lauren Decker). The queen tells Tamino that if he finds Pamina, she will be his. Papageno (Adam Plachetka), the queen's birdcatcher, joins him on the quest. Aided by Tamino's magic flute and Papageno's magic bells, they endure various trials separately and together, including an encounter with the comically savage Monostatos (Rodell Rosel). Three young genies (Casey Lyons, Parker Scribner, Asher Alcantara/Lyric debuts) are their guides. Eventually the Queen of the Night is vanquished, Tamino and Pamina are united, and Papageno finds love with Papagena (Diana Newman) as the queen's forces of evil yield to the forces of good.

Rory Macdonald conducts the new Lyric production, directed by Neil Armfield and designed by Dale Ferguson, with lighting designed by Damien Cooper. Michael Black is chorus master and Denni Sayers is choreographer.

"Three decades after the premiere of our last new production of The Magic Flute, Lyric is bringing the masterpiece back to our stage in the highly imaginative vision of director Neil Armfield," says Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director, president & CEO. "I know our audiences will be entranced by Neil's concept, and they'll be delighted by our wonderfully enchanting cast. The Magic Flute will be a joy and the ideal choice for families at holiday time."

Adds Lyric's music director, Sir Andrew Davis, "This is, of course, one of the most life-enhancing works ever composed, and it's also loaded with great humor and delightful romance. It's a piece you can experience over and over again, because it invariably renews your spirits and gives you hope for humanity."

The opening-night performance of The Magic Flute will be broadcast live locally on 98.7WFMT and globally on wfmt.com on Saturday, December 10, beginning at 7:15pm.

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