Seattle Opera Presents THE MAGIC FLUTE 5/7-21

Seattle Opera closes its 2010/11 season with The Magic Flute. Mozart's beloved fairy-tale celebrates the power of music, as a prince, a princess, and a bird-catcher try to find their own way in a world torn apart by the feud between a manipulative queen and a powerful priest. Set in a pyramid filled with hidden dangers and magical effects worthy of an Indiana Jones adventure, Seattle Opera's new production features the return of several Seattle favorites along with plenty of exciting debuts. The Magic Flute runs for nine performances: May 7, 8 (matinee), 11, 13, 14, 15 (matinee), 18, 20, and 21, 2011.

"Mozart and Schickaneder set The Magic Flute in their idea of Egypt," says Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins. "But few productions have expanded on the locale. Using the pyramids as a basis, our design team and director Chris Alexander have created a world of mystery, charm, and fun."

Leading the musical forces is conductor Gary Thor Wedow, who previously conducted Giulio Cesare and Iphigénie en Tauride at Seattle Opera. Stage Director Chris Alexander also returns to the company, where he twice won Seattle Opera's Artist of the Year Award for Ariadne auf Naxos '04 and Les contes d'Hoffmann '05. For both of those productions, Alexander worked with sets designed by Robert Dahlstrom, who designs the scenery for this Magic Flute along with Robert Schaub. Although Schaub is making his mainstage debut, he's no stranger to Seattle Opera-he's served as the company's Technical Director for the past two decades. Lighting Designer Duane Schuler, returning to the company, contributes to the visual magic onstage. Costumes for the production are by legendary British couture designer Zandra Rhodes, making her debut with the company. Rhodes, whose clothes have been worn by Jackie Onassis, Princess Diana, and Freddie Mercury of Queen, has also designed several operas.

The opening night cast of The Magic Flute features Canadian tenor John Tessier as Tamino, in his Seattle Opera debut. Following her 2009 engagement as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, soprano Christine Brandes returns to Seattle as Pamina. Also returning is former Young Artist Emily Hindrichs, as the Queen of the Night. Russian bass Ilya Bannik makes his company debut as Sarastro, while baritone Philip Cutlip-a Seattle favorite who most recently appeared as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor-takes on Papageno. Alternating with this cast for the Sunday/Friday performances are several exciting performers making their Seattle Opera debuts: tenor Jonathan Boyd as Tamino, soprano Hanan Alattar as Pamina, soprano Mari Moriya as the Queen of the Night, bass-baritone Keith Miller as Sarastro, and baritone Leigh Melrose as Papageno. Both casts feature tenor Doug Jones as Monostatos-a role he also performed in Seattle Opera's 1999 production of The Magic Flute-and baritone Philip Skinner as the Speaker.

In addition to Hindrichs, this production features two other former Seattle Opera Young Artists: sopranos Anya Matanovic as the First Lady and Ani Maldjian as Papagena. Current Young Artists appearing in the production include soprano Marcy Stonikas and mezzo-soprano Lindsey Anderson as the Second and Third Ladies and tenor Eric Neuville and bass Erik Anstine as the Two Priests. The Two Armored Men are tenor John Christopher Adams, making his Seattle Opera debut, and bass Jonathan Silvia. The cast also features six young performers from King County, ages 12 to 14, as the Three Genies.

The Magic Flute runs from Saturday, May 7, to Saturday, May 21. Single tickets start at $25 and are available online at seattleopera.org, by calling 206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619, or by mobile phone at mobile.seattleopera.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the Box Office by visiting 1020 John Street (two blocks west of Fairview), Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Please note the following artist list for The Magic Flute replaces all previously announced cast lists. Further information on the 2010/11 season and full biographies of the cast members can be found at seattleopera.org.

The Magic Flute

Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder
In German with English Captions

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle, Washington
9 Performances: May 7, 8m, 11, 13, 14, 15m, 18, 20, and 21, 2011
Approximate Running Time: 3 hours, including one intermission
Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; matinees begin at 2:00 p.m.

Single ticket prices start at $25
Seattle Opera Ticket Office: 206.389.7676/800.426.1619
Online orders: www.seattleopera.org