Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K620 (The Magic Flute)

“This is one of the most wondrous and simple stagings of Mozart's elevated Singspiel yet. As its musical attributes are almost as excellent, it's an experience no one with DVD should miss. The action is choreographed in a manner precisely fitting the mood of the moment, serious or comic. Details, such as the dragon, animals responding to Tamino's flute, the arrival of the three Boys, the evocation of fire and water and several others, often invitations to director's bêtises, all march here with the thought-through and pleasing-to-look-at concept. How happy that it should be preserved on video, though a pity it's in 4:3 rather than in widescreen format.
Gönnenwein conducts a reading that fits perfectly with what's happening on stage in terms of unaffected, rhythmically firm and keenly articulated playing from his fine orchestra. Deon van der Walt's Tamino is a well-known quantity but he surpasses himself here in strong tone and finely moulded phrasing. He has a fit partner in Ulrike Sonntag's pure-voiced, moving Pamina. Thomas Mohr, though unflatteringly attired, is a nicely unfussy and gently amusing Papageno. Good and evil, at bottom and top of the range, aren't so happily done. Hauptmann's visually impressive Sarastro lacks vocal presence and tends to unsteadiness. Similarly Frei's formidable figure as Queen of Night produces an edgy, uncontrolled sound. Ladies and Boys are all admirable.
The video direction is sensitive; the sound, for the most part clear and well balanced, suffers from occasional moments of distortion. But that shouldn't detract from your enjoyment of this life-enhancing experience.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010