Praise for The Magic Flute

Duke Kim as Tamino with Ethan Ibsen, Caleb Petrini, and Autumn Helene Chociej as the Three Genies in The Magic Flute at Seattle Opera. Photo: David Jaewon Oh.

Audiences have one last weekend to catch Seattle Opera’s latest production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, which has taken the city by storm. Concocted by visionary director Barrie Kosky and mixed-media theater group 1927, the production blends hand-drawn animations with silent film aesthetics in a unique, fully animated film projected over live performers. Read what critics have to say about this audacious new production, and don’t miss your chance to see The Magic Flute, playing at McCaw Hall until March 9. Tickets and info at seattleopera.org/flute.

A remarkable synergy of musical and visual storytelling. […] While adults will have fun decoding some of the cultural references baked into this Magic Flute, it also works wonderfully as an appealing musical adventure for younger audiences. Mozart’s magic knows no age limits. —The Seattle Times

Duke Kim as Tamino and Brandie Sutton as Pamina in The Magic Flute at Seattle Opera. Photo: Sunny Martini.

Seattle Opera’s animated take on Mozart’s The Magic Flute is exquisite, riveting, and weird as hell. —The Stranger

[T]he production is a constant delight. It’s truly a show within itself, in the best sense of the descriptor. You never know what you’ll see next, or on which level or through which portal a character or ensemble will appear. In this sense, it’s a bit like Mozart’s writing: How will he surprise, delight, and move us next? —Classical Voice North America

Rodell Rosel as Monostatos in The Magic Flute at Seattle Opera. Photo: David Jaewon Oh.

Silent film combined with the vocality of opera may seem self-contradictory, but when dream worlds collide and archetypal, mythological elements and ancient trials of initiation coalesce into a common theatrical language, the result makes this fascinating production well worth seeing. —Bachtrack

Mozart himself would have loved Seattle Opera's amazing new production of The Magic Flute. […] Judging by the raucous applause on opening weekend, this surprising interpretation of a beloved favorite is an unqualified success. —SGN

In Sung Sim as Sarastro and Rodell Rosel as Monostatos with members of the Seattle Opera Chorus in The Magic Flute at Seattle Opera. Photo: Sunny Martini.

The drawings and animations bring the production together and glue everything in place and are intriguing in their own right as art as well as moving the action along. […] All of these elements make this a not to be missed production. It runs through March 9, and if you can get tickets, do. This production has been round the world already and will be one of those shows that will be discussed for years to come. Go see it. —British Theatre Guide