The Department of Music delivered an adapted performance of a famous German opera, The Magic Flute, in Cullen Auditorium March 26 and 28 as one of the ACU Opera Workshop’s two annual shows.
Also known as Die Zauberflote, the opera was composed by Wolfgang Mozart over 150 years ago and tells the love story of two couples: Tamino and Pamina, and Papageno and Papagena. It is a fairytale opera with a central theme of good versus evil and love triumphant.
Opera companies usually invent a fairytale setting for Die Zauberflote, but Dr. Rick Piersall, ACU Opera director, decided to add a twist to ACU’s adaptation by modeling the opera after the Star Wars universe.
Naomi Worley, senior vocal performance major from Plano, helped design costumes and sets for the play based on looks from the Star Wars trilogy.
“ACU Opera Theatre’s production of this opera is very different than other operas that we have performed in previous years,” said Julie Brinkman, senior vocal music education major from McKinney. “Not only are we performing the entire opera in its original German language, but we are also adding our own twist to the character.”
Worley also played the coveted role of Queen of the Night, the villainess of the opera, while Brinkman played one of the three ladies in the queen’s service.
“Let me tell you, being evil for a night is very fun,” Worley said.
With dramatic makeup, 40-plus individual costumes and an other-worldly setting, each performer drew in the audience allowing them to feel every emotion portrayed on the stage.
“There is a part for every voice type in the company, and the scenes are balanced so that no one person is carrying the whole show,” Worley said.
The Magic Flute was a success for ACU Opera, which has performed an impressive list of operas such as Amahl and the Night Visitors, Violet, Susannah and Carmen over the last two years.
Worley said The Magic Flute was not only a fun production to be a part of but also one that could prepare herself and others for future musical performances.
“The opera itself is very well known throughout the world and will not only be entertaining and enjoyable for the audience, but it also provides a lot of foundational experience and repertoire for those in the cast who plan on performing after graduation,” Brinkman said.
ACU Opera has not yet announced its next production.
