UBC Opera stages Mozart's The Magic Flute at the Old Auditorium, November 27 to 30

Fantasy-filled production featuring members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra offers a timeless story that resonates with audiences of all ages

SPONSORED POST BY UBC Opera

UBC Opera’s The Magic Flute in 2018. Photo by Sharon Steele

This fall, UBC Opera is staging the whimsical Die Zauberflöte, also known as The Magic Flute, Mozart’s most famous opera that blends fantasy, comedy, and adventure. Performances are taking place at the UBC Old Auditorium from November 27 to 29 at 7:30 pm and November 30 at 2 pm.

In The Magic Flute, Prince Tamino embarks on a quest to rescue Pamina, the Queen of the Night’s daughter, from the clutches of the mysterious Sarastro. Armed with a magic flute and accompanied by the bumbling bird-catcher Papageno, Tamino navigates a world of trials, deception, and discovery to find true enlightenment and win his fair Pamina. As the journey unfolds, he learns that true wisdom and love transcend appearances, leading to a triumphant union of light and harmony.

The Magic Flute is a two-act Singspiel opera performed in German with English surtitles, featuring music by Mozart and libretto by Emanuel Schikanede. This production stars the UBC Opera Ensemble with members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, led by conductor Jacques Lacombe and director Nancy Hermiston. The opera is a delightful introduction to the world of classical music, offering enchanting melodies and a timeless story that resonates with audiences of all ages.

UBC Opera’s The Magic Flute in 2018. Photo by Sharon Steele

The comical, fantastical tale told in The Magic Flute is enhanced by sets and costumes that transport audiences into a world of colour and Egyptian mystery. The production is being staged in the intimate atmosphere of UBC’s Old Auditorium, a 522-seat venue with a 50-seat orchestra pit.

UBC Opera is dedicating its 2025-26 season to celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Old Auditorium, which opened on October 14, 1925 as one of the first buildings on the Point Grey campus. After surviving near-demolition in 1997, the building was restored with the help of donors, then renovated in 2010, and now thrives as the home of the UBC Opera Ensemble. Today, it continues to inspire artists and audiences from around the world, standing as a vibrant symbol of community and the healing power of music.

Tickets to see The Magic Flute are on sale through UBC Opera, and more information is available here.

Post sponsored by UBC Opera.

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