Die Zauberflöte

The Magic Flute
still great in the cheap seats

I saw Julie Taymor's shortened kid's version of the Magic Flute last year. While I found it charming and fun, I still have a problem really enjoying it when sung in English. Thus I went to the full German version as the third performance in this years season ticket splurge at the Met Opera. The house was sold out. My tickets are in the Family Circle, translates to cheap seats, thus many tourists and students reside in this section. I notice the dress goes from elegant and formal at the Orchestra and Mezzanine levels and progressively gets more casual, often too casual, once you reach the nose-bleed section I reside in. On an absurdly dressed note, the gay guy next to me, who was a good 15 years older than his date, was dressed in leather pants, red shiny shirt and black leather jacket, bald head, silver bracelets, silver rings including a pinkie ring, and biker boots. Was he auditionsing for the geriatric version of The Village People? There were a lot of Germans in attendance this night. On a positive note, the audience really appreciated the performances and was well-mannered compared to theater-going audiences.
The Queen of the Night was fabulously performed. I found the other performances rather good but not outstanding. There are several scenes in the full version which really add to the theatrics and story that I missed in the children's version including the decent up through flames and down through water. Pamina and Tamino are in a billowing sheer tube of fabric as the platform they are on rises and lowers in this glowing column, lite red for fire and blue for water with shimmering and dramatic effect. I also like the chess playing during Sarastro's discussion of how to 'play' with the hero and his journey. A few scenes cut weren't missed like the spirits and Pamina staged song (literally, a small stage with curtain brought onto the larger set) . Overall, I loved the whacky costumes, the upstart adolescent portrayal of Papgeno and the fabulous music. Mozart genius.