The Magic Flute is likely one of the operas with tunes so catchy and recognizable, even those that have by no means seen a efficiency of it have in all probability heard its music. Whether or not it’s the overture performed as background music on the mall on an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or a music field on an episode of Home bringing Papageno’s “Das klinget so herrlich” entrance and middle, The Magic Flute is certainly within the popular culture panorama.
In 1995, Disney launched Operation Dumbo Drop, a (family-friendly) film starring Danny Glover, Ray Liotta, and Denis Leary about an Military mission to ship an elephant to a village in the course of the Vietnam Conflict. The over-the-top plot additionally contains a second through which one character sings alongside, horribly, to the Queen of the Evening’s well-known aria, “Der Hölle Rache”:
“Der Hölle Rache” was additionally mentioned in a 2009 episode of The CW’s in style Gossip Lady TV sequence, in the course of the second season episode “You’ve Acquired Yale!” through which the principle characters attend a efficiency of The Magic Flute. Opera is talked about all through the episode, and this brief video options a couple of notable references:
In these clips, the nameless Gossip Lady compares the drama of the principle characters to Flute; Dan and Nate discuss going to the opera, and make a bonus reference to The Ring; and Eric breaks down Magic Flute to opera beginner Rufus, whereas they hearken to “Der Hölle Rache.” By the best way, we positively disagree with Eric’s assertion that Flute is “opera for amateurs.” Whereas it is a terrific introduction to these unfamiliar with opera, there’s one thing for everybody on this Mozart masterpiece.
That very same aria was included within the soundtrack for Eat Pray Love, launched in 2010 and starring Julia Roberts. It was an fascinating alternative of music, contemplating the context: this very German aria is performed to focus on the enjoyment Roberts’ character is experiencing whereas touring by way of Italy and savoring Italian delicacies:
Flute‘s music has additionally been in quite a few commercials, for every little thing from automobiles to macaroni and cheese. Papageno may take pleasure in Crimson Bull primarily based on its “Crimson Bull offers you wings” slogan, however we guess he wasn’t so happy with the end result of this intelligent industrial for the power drink, that includes Papageno’s entrance aria “Der Vogelfänger Bin Ich Ja” (“I’m a chook catcher”):
Probably the most acquainted little bit of music from The Magic Flute is the Queen of the Evening’s Act 2 aria, “Der Hölle Rache,” with its well-known vocalise taking pictures as much as excessive F. Because it turns into virtually pure music—out of context, you may not realize it’s sung by a loopy lady threatening to disown her daughter until she murders her mom’s enemy—it’s been utilized in all types of contexts. For Volvo in 2018, this aria connoted an concept of luxurious, in an commercial which requested, “Are you able to design an SUV for an aria?”
Volvo transposed the aria down a number of steps, in all probability as a result of the unique excessive F is so excessive it didn’t fairly work with the model. However a pair years later, when Etsy.com used the Queen’s aria in an commercial showcasing the various distinctive and authentic treasures individuals buy and promote on the positioning, she was singing within the authentic key:
The worst Queen of the Evening on file was the infamous Florence Foster Jenkins, whose ‘efficiency’ of the aria didn’t look like in any key in any respect, when Meryl Streep sang it in her 2016 film, Florence Foster Jenkins. The recording of the actual Jenkins is accessible on YouTube; right here’s Meryl Streep’s exceptional impersonation:
MAGIC FLUTE Motion pictures
In 1975, the good director Ingmar Bergman filmed The Magic Flute for Swedish tv, sung in Swedish, set in (a reproduction of) an eighteenth-century theater close to Stockholm, and created one of many biggest opera-to-screen diversifications of all time. When you’ve by no means seen it it is effectively value a glance. Criterion Assortment has a DVD, and presently your complete factor can be posted on YouTube.
In 2006, Kenneth Branagh made a movie adaptation of The Magic Flute that set the story throughout World Conflict I, with the German libretto translated to English by Stephen Fry, and music performed by James Conlon. Branagh’s movie is the primary time The Magic Flute was filmed particularly for the large display screen. You may watch bits and items on-line, together with the duet between Papageno and Papagena. This is how Branagh filmed the overture:
And in 2023, an enthralling family-friendly movie was launched, produced by Roland Emmerich and directed by Florian Sigl, through which a younger man attending a high-pressure music faculty in Austria finds a magical portal to the world of The Magic Flute, the place he takes over the journey of Prince Tamino. F. Murray Abraham, who so dazzled the world as Mozart’s rival Salieri in Amadeus, performs the crabby headmaster, whereas opera stars Morris Robinson and Sabine Devielhe dazzle as Sarastro and the Queen of the Evening. Accessible on DVD and for streaming; and here is a trailer:
It is not simply The Magic Flute‘s music that has been referenced in movie and TV over time. A number of motion pictures, for instance, have featured plot traces involving magical flutes—just like the 1976 animated movie The Smurfs and the Magic Flute. Set within the Center Ages, the film focuses on a court docket jester who discovers a magic flute that, when performed, makes the townspeople dance uncontrollably. Sounds harmless sufficient—till a thief snatches away the flute and makes use of its powers to rob individuals of their gold. It is not fairly the identical journey as in Mozart’s opera, however it’s a magic flute nonetheless! The complete film is accessible for viewing on YouTube.
The Magic Flute is on stage February 22–March 9, 2025 at McCaw Corridor. Study extra and purchase tickets at seattleopera.org/flute.
