Reviews
City Tech News & Events
October 1, 2003
'Missing Flutes' Spark Controversy Over 'Magic Flute'
Production Mounted at City Tech
The Opera Company of Brooklyn founder and principal conductor Jay D. Meetze's fantastical adaptation of Magic Flute , which he set in a future time, both played to a capacity audience and was, itself, nothing short of magical.
At the end of the performance, the audience was mainly all smiles and the reaction to the production was a highly favorable one. "At first, I could tell a difference in the quality of the sound," one patron said, "but then, as time went by, I was so caught up in the overall excellence of the production that I completely forgot that virtual music had replaced real musicians."
The singers -- mainly younger, rising operatic talent -- were outstanding in both voice and action. The costuming was exquisitely expressive and a giant rear-view projection screen at the back of the stage provided all the visuals needed to effectively set the scene and mood.
In what amounts to very good news for The Opera Company of Brooklyn and the future of opera in the borough, a majority of the audience seemed made up of opera fans under 30. And when all was sang and done, their response suggested that it had been a wonderful night at the opera.