Academy of Vocal Arts Presents Die Zauberflote

Wednesday, April 19, 2017 · 5:30 pm · Free Opera Preview at AVA ·
Saturday, April 29, 2017 · 7:30 pm · Helen Corning Warden Theater ·
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 · 7:30 pm · Helen Corning Warden Theater ·
Thursday, May 4, 2017 · 7:30 pm · Helen Corning Warden Theater ·
Saturday, May 6, 2017 · 7:30 pm · Central Bucks South High School, Warrington ·
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 · 7:30 pm · Centennial Hall, The Haverford School ·

Stage Director Jeffrey Buchman brings his Florida Grand Opera setting of Mozart’s beloved opera to the AVA stage. A young boy reads the fantastic tale of The Queen of the Night persuading Prince Tamino to rescue her daughter Pamina from captivity under the high priest Sarastro. Picturing himself as Tamino, the boy learns the high ideals of Sarastro’s community and seeks to join it. Separately, then together, Tamino and Pamina undergo severe trials of initiation, which end in triumph with the Queen and her cohorts vanquished.

This will be AVA's fifth production of Die Zauberflöte with previous productions mounted in 1977-78, 1982-83, 1996-97 and 2002-03.

Ten years after graduating AVA, tenor Richard Troxell returned as one of the Tamino’s in AVA’s 2003 production of Die Zauberflöte, splitting the role with Derek Taylor (who went on to reprise the role with Palm Beach Opera). Mr. Troxell would reprise his Tamino with Madison Opera (2006).

Jeffrey Halili was featured as Monastatos, a role he would reprise six years later with New York City Opera.

Bass-baritone Keith Miller continued his transition from college football star to opera singer with his Sarastro in 2003 - a role he reprised in Seattle (2011) and Nashville (2013).

Finally, Nicole Piccolomini sang as the third of the “Three Ladies” (also called Dritte Dame) at AVA in 2003 and reprised the role for Deutsche Opera Berlin in 2013.

Also featured in the production were future Richard Tucker Award winners James Valenti (First Priest) and Ailyn Pérez (Papagena).