THE MAGIC FLUE Set for Queensland Conservatorium

Enter a world of magical serpents, pipe playing birdmen and the formidable Queen of the Night, as Prince Tamino battles the forces of evil to win the hand of her daughter Pamina.

Directed by stagecraft expert Anna Sweeny and conducted by Head of Opera Nicholas Cleobury, Queensland Conservatorium students will present the classic tale of Mozart's The Magic Flute in excerpts across two performances on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 May.

This marks the first local production for Nicholas since he left London late last year and he describes it as "one of the miracle pieces, with a wonderful mix of high seriousness and humour".

"It's a very deep piece about the power of music, relationships, learning and enlightenment alongside comedy, so it's a real hybrid and tremendous entertainment," he explains.

"It promises to be an event not just for lovers of Mozart, but for audiences of all ages.

"It has something for everyone - a love story, serious philosophy and jokes galore while being a visual spectacle.

"This was also the last complete major piece that Mozart wrote before he died and it's been said that he wrote through the nights fuelled by red wine and oysters!

"He was keen to write another German opera and he did it par excellence," he says.

Singing students from Queensland Conservatorium will perform in German (with subtitles) the solo and chorus roles, with a student Chamber Orchestra.

Nicholas Cleobury has conducted all the major UK orchestras and widely in Europe, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, Singapore, South Africa and the USA. While in London, he worked regularly for the BBC and Classic FM, appeared at many British Music Festivals, often at the Proms and made many recordings.