Photo Flash: First Look at THE MAGIC FLUTE, Opening Tomorrow at the Lyric Opera

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a new production of The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte), Mozart's enchanting opera about the triumph of good over evil. The Magic Flute opens tomorrow, December 10, with eleven performances through January 27 at Lyric's Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

In Mozart's final opera, Princess Pamina (soprano Christiane Karg), daughter of the Queen of the Night (soprano Kathryn Lewek/Lyric debut), has been captured by the high priest Sarastro (bass Christof Fischesser/Lyric debut). Prince Tamino (tenors 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 (soprano Ann Toomey, mezzo-soprano Annie Rosen, contralto Lauren Decker). The queen tells Tamino that if he finds Pamina, she will be his. Papageno (bass-baritone Adam Plachetka), the queen's birdcatcher, joins him on the quest. Aided by Tamino's magic flute and Papageno's magic bells, they face numerous challenges separately and together, including an encounter with the comically savage Monostatos (tenor Rodell Rosel), who lusts after Pamina. Three genies (trebles 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 (soprano Diana Newman) as the queen's forces of evil yield to the forces of good.

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

Tickets are available now at lyricopera.org/Flute or at 312-827-5600. Performances are in German with projectEd English translations. Discounted tickets for children start at $20.

Photo Credits: Todd Rosenberg and Andrew Cioffi

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

THE MAGIC FLUTE at Lyric Opera of Chicago

12/8/16 4:50:14 PM Lyric Opera of Chicago Presents THE MAGIC FLUTE (DIE ZAUBERFLO?TE) Mozart © Todd Rosenberg Photography 2016

12/8/16 2:16:08 PM Lyric Opera of Chicago Presents THE MAGIC FLUTE (DIE ZAUBERFLO?TE) Mozart © Todd Rosenberg Photography 2016