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linkWolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s imaginative opera “The Magic Flute” (“Die Zauberflöte”) has been enchanting audiences since its premiere more than 200 years ago, and now Lamar Opera Theatre will present a fully-staged version of this fairy-tale masterpiece at 7:30 p.m. April 11 - 12.

The opera will be performed in German, with English dialogue and supertitles, in the Rothwell Recital Hall of the James M. “Jimmy” Simmons Music Building on the Lamar University campus.

Mozart’s final opera, “The Magic Flute” takes place in two acts. In a fantasy world of sorcery, dungeons and wild animals, a young prince sets out to rescue a beautiful princess, the daughter of the Queen of the Night. He carries a magic flute as a shield, guide and weapon to assist his quest for truth and justice as dark forces seek to destroy him.

The production is conducted by Kurt Gilman, chair of the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music, and directed by Serdar Ilban, assistant professor of voice and opera. Ilban also translated and edited the dialogues to English. Lamar music instructor Roger Keele provides piano accompaniment and music direction.

“‘Die Zauberflöte’ opened in 1791 with Mozart conducting and librettist Emanuel Schikaneder in the role of Papageno, the Birdcatcher, to great acclaim,” said Ilban. “It was Mozart’s first opera to be written for a popular theatre and not under the patronage of the royalty or nobility. It is fitting, therefore, that the themes in ‘The Magic Flute’ reflect Mozart’s visions for a society in which all persons are created equal, and truth and goodness always triumph over deception and evil.”

General admission is $10, and tickets should be reserved in advance.

For tickets or more information, call the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music at 409-880-8144.