Operas for children
Other operas specifically written with children in mind:
Pollicino (Tom Thumb) - Hans Werner Henze
The Cunning Little Vixen (Príhody Lišky Bystroušky) - Leoš Janáček
Noye's Fludde - Benjamin Britten
L'enfant et les sortilèges (The child and the spells) - Maurice Ravel
Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Information about the opera Die Zauberflöte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Mozart's most mysterious opera, on the surface the story of the trials of two lovers, but with deep esoteric meanings about Masonic idealism.
Recommended recordings on CD
Jacobs/Petersen/Kaappola (Harmonia Mundi HMC902068/70)
A stunning new recording.
Berlin RIAS Chamber Choir, Berlin Academy for Ancient Music, conducted by René Jacobs.
Cast: Marlin Petersen (Pamina), Anna-Kristiina Kaappola (Queen of the Night), Daniel Behle (Tamino), Daniel Schmutzhard (Papageno), Marcos Fink (Sarastro).
Harmonia Mundi HMC902068/70
Abbado/Röschmann/Miklósa (Deutsche Grammophon 477 5789GH2)
A superb new live recording, using modern instruments.
Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado, 2005.
Cast: Dorothea Röschmann (Pamina), Erika Miklósa (Queen of the Night), Christoph Strehl (Tamino), Hanno Müller-Brachmann (Papageno), René Pape (Sarastro).
Deutsche Grammophon 477 5789GH2
Halász/Norberg-Schulz/Kwon (Naxos 8.660904-06)
An Opera Plus version combining Die Zauberflöte (c. Halász) with a commentary CD.
Hungarian Festival Chorus, Failoni Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Michael Halász, 1993.
Cast: Elisabeth Norberg-Schulz (Pamina), Hellen Kwon (Queen of the Night), Herbert Lippert (Tamino), Georg Tichy (Papageno).
Naxos 8.660904-06
Solti/Ziesak/Jo (Decca 433 210-2)
An excellent recent recording with superb sound and a first-rate cast. The recommended studio recording.
Vienna State Opera Chorus Konzertvereinigung, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, conducted by Sir Georg Solti, 1990.
Cast: Ruth Ziesak (Pamina), Sumi Jo (Queen of the Night), Uwe Heilmann (Tamino), Michael Kraus (Papageno), Kurt Moll (Sarastro).
Decca 433 210-2
Mackerras/Hendricks/Anderson (Telarc 80302)
Well conducted, with a generally good cast.
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.
Cast: Barbara Hendricks (Pamina), June Anderson (Queen of the Night), Jerry Hadley (Tamino), Thomas Allen (Papageno), Robert Lloyd (Sarastro).
Telarc 80302
Also included in the boxed set:
Mozart Operas Complete
Christie/Mannion/Dessay (Erato 0630 12705-2)
A highly musical recording using period instruments and an excellent cast.
Les Arts Florissants, conducted by William Christie, 1995.
Cast: Rosa Mannion (Pamina), Natalie Dessay (Queen of the Night), Hans-Peter Blochwitz (Tamino), Anton Scharinger (Papageno), Reinhard Hagen (Sarastro).
Erato 0630 12705-2
Halász/Norberg-Schulz/Kwon (Naxos 8.660030-31)
Hungarian Festival Chorus, Failoni Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Michael Halász, 6/1993.
Cast: Elisabeth Norberg-Schulz (Pamina), Hellen Kwon (Queen of the Night), Herbert Lippert (Tamino), Georg Tichy (Papageno), Kurt Rydl (Sarastro).
Naxos 8.660030-31
Recommended recordings on DVD
Böer/Kühmeier/Shagimuratova (Opus Arte OA 1066 D)
A very different Magic Flute, directed by artist William Kentridge, sets the opera in the magical world of monochrome photography. Recorded live at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 2011.
Milan La Scala Orchestra, Milan La Scala Chorus, conducted by Roland Böer, 2011.
Cast: Genia Kühmeier (Pamina), Albina Shagimuratova (Queen of the Night), Saimir Pirgu (Tamino), Alex Esposito (Papageno), Günther Groissböch (Sarastro).
Opus Arte OA 1066 D
Fischer/Röschmann/Rancatore (Arthaus Musik 107 233)
Tamino meets Papageno, the bird catcher, and the three attendants of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's opera The Magic Flute.
A traditional colourful production by Benno Besson. with excellent singing, and good picture quality and sound.
Opéra National De Paris, conducted by Iván Fischer.
Cast: Dorothea Röschmann (Pamina), Désirée Rancatore (Queen of the Night), Piotr Beczala (Tamino), Detlef Roth (Papageno), Matti Salminen (Sarastro).
Arthaus Musik 107 233
Also included in the boxed set:
Magic Moments of Opera
Haitink/Lott/Sandoz (Arthaus Musik 101 085)
A superb Glyndebourne production from 1978, conducted by Bernard Haitink, with Felicity Lott excelling as Pamina.
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Glyndebourne Chorus, conducted by Bernard Haitink, 1978.
Cast: Felicity Lott (Pamina), May Sandoz (Queen of the Night), Leo Goeke (Tamino), Benjamin Luxon (Papageno), Thomas Thomaschke (Sarastro).
Arthaus Musik 101 085
Davis (Opus Arte OA 0855 D)
David McVicar's 2003 production, recorded live at Covent Garden.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis, 2003.
Opus Arte OA 0855 D