Opera Up Close: The Magic Flute

There were a few moments during the first half of Opera Up Close’s production of The Magic Flute that were slightly discomfiting. Would a quiet, distorted and often palm-muted electric guitar do Mozart’s melodies justice? Would the modern setting and new libretto distract or illuminate the work in a new light? Thankfully, by the second half my nerves were dispelled and I was won over as the charisma and ability of the cast coalesced into an enjoyable, lyrical whole.

To set the scene, imagine The Magic Flute transposed into modern times with a nightclub a stylistic and narrative focal point. The singers were accompanied by bass, guitar (switching between electric and modern), flute and piano. Glyn Maxwell’s libretto is English and there were no surtitles: thankfully, the performers’ diction was superb, particularly pronounced when delivering punchlines such as the delightfully spiky “you’re just pissing about”, which gives you an impression of the roustabout – but sincere – tone of the show.

The singing was occasionally a little quiet but the singers were well-rehearsed and and the work carefully honed. The staging was stylish, spartan at times but effective, with some grand lighting reveals and a well-realised lurid futuristic aesthetic. The impressive production has given us a convivial and melodious Magic Flute brimming with creativity across the board, and one that we’ll hopefully see more of in the future.

The Hawth, Crawley, 13 January 2018

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