Mozart’s exquisite, light-hearted opera is one of the most performed in the world, and it was played beautifully by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the Edinburgh International Festival this year with an impressive international cast of singers.

Like Mozart himself, the conductor Maxim Emelyanychev was himself a bit of a child prodigy, making his conducting debut aged 12 in his native Russia. He is now the award-winning Principal Conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and has worked with orchestras around the world.

The Magic Flute is a story about love, set in a magical landscape. Prince Tamino is pursued by a dragon. Three mysterious ladies save him. They are servants of the Queen of the Night – sung here stunningly by Kathryn Lewek. This sparks off an anarchic adventure, where Tamino and his newly acquired sidekick Papageno the bird-catcher vow to rescue a beautiful young woman who has been kidnapped from her mother The Queen of the Night. Tamino is given a magic flute to protect him in his quest and Papageno a set of bells.

The performances were all very good, especially Peter Hoare who played the wicked temple keeper Monostatos with bags of personality, and Gyula Orendt who played the likeable Papageno who just wants a girlfriend. There was also narration throughout and up-to-date Scottish banter providing additional laughs.

This production cleverly uses props such as a hangman’s noose and a baseball bat, and embraces the silliness of the story while giving the audience the full pelt of rich and beautiful music.

The Magic Flute was on at The Usher Hall Edinburgh on the 12th of August.

Ailie Hunter
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