The Magic Flute
Venue: The Metropolitan Opera
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2024 7:30 PM
Attending The Magic Flute at The Metropolitan Opera was one of the most magical nights I’ve ever experienced. From the moment the orchestra began, the entire theatre felt like a storybook coming to life. The colourful costumes, imaginative puppetry, and moving set pieces made the stage feel playful and dreamlike. I especially loved the animals, floating stars, and whimsical characters; it felt as if every corner of the stage had something new to discover.
At our seats, and all ready for the performance - can you see the scrolling LED text screens in front of each seat?
One of the highlights was the Queen of the Night’s appearance. Her famous aria was even more thrilling live than I had imagined. The soprano’s voice soared effortlessly through the high notes, and her costume made her look like a fierce, otherworldly queen.
Before attending the performance, my family and I explored two really helpful resources: the programme notes and the illustrated synopsis on the Met Opera’s website. The synopsis was especially fun because it was drawn like a storybook, with colourful pictures that explained the characters and what happened in each scene. It helped me understand the opera before it even began, which made the experience more meaningful and easier to follow, even for my younger brother.
On top of that, the dialogue and text was shown on the scrolling reader in front of our seats, making it easy for us to follow along the plot.
After the concert, my mum’s friend, who studied music in university, told me that The Magic Flute is actually studied by many music students. She explained that it’s not only because Mozart’s music is so beautiful, but also because it blends spoken dialogue with singing in a special form called Singspiel. It also carries deeper themes about wisdom, love, and light overcoming darkness, which are often explored in music history and opera classes.
Group Photo with my family and my dad’s friend’s family who are based in New York - Right before the the opera started
As a young vocalist myself, I was fascinated by the variety of roles and vocal styles in the opera, from the serious and noble Sarastro, to the playful Papageno, to the dramatic Queen of the Night. I loved how each voice type expressed something different about the character’s personality. It made me think about what kind of roles I might want to sing one day, and how much acting and stage presence matter in opera too.
Seeing an opera in a world-famous theatre like the Met reminded me how much creativity, preparation, and teamwork go into every production. It has made me feel excited to keep learning - not just singing technique, but also storytelling, languages, and history.
