Review: Die Zauberflöte"New Jersey Opera's Magic Flute"Courier-Post (Robert Baxter) The New Jersey Opera is rounding out its survey of popular Mozart operas with a winning production of The Magic Flute. A capacity audience in McCarter Theatre Center's Berlind Theatre gave the singers and the production warm applause Friday evening. Mozart's opera blends low comedy with high drama. This production provides both in two languages – the singers deliver the spoken dialogue in English and switch to German for the musical numbers. Friday evening's performance began buoyantly. Conductor Brent McMunn led a crisply phrased and propulsively paced reading of the overture. McMunn shaped a handsome musical performance. The singing and the staging slowly came into focus. Director Scott Altman can take much of the credit for that. Altman kept the action flowing fluidly and moved the singers and the chorus effectively. The design team – Mikiko Suzuki McAdams (sets) and Patricia A. Hibbert (costumes) – added to the visual appeal… McAdams underlined the drama with some striking visual effects. Particularly effective were the swirling images that suggested the flames and water Tamino and Pamina pass through as their love is tested in the second act. Barry Steele's imaginative lighting added to the impact. The singers formed a strong ensemble… Kisma Jordan sang Pamina's music with an attractive lyric soprano. As Tamino, Greg Warren sang stylishly… Peter Couchman made a delightful Papageno… [and] proved a master of the ad lib. When the birdcatcher's chimes lost their handle, Couchman shook the box in time to the music. The conductor and orchestra musicians joined the audience in applauding his aplomb. Bass Ben Wager added an attractive voice and an appealing stage presence to the Speaker's appearances. As the Queen of the Night, Colleen Daly sang forcefully… Return to the Reviews and Articles Archive.
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