The Magic Flute, Mozart’s whimsical fantasy tale of a prince and a kidnapped princess, is coming to Bemidji State University.

The Magic Flute , Die Zauberflöte, first performed in 1791 in suburban Vienna, follows the story of the noble Prince Tamino who is saved from a serpent by two women who ask him to rescue Pamina, the daughter of the Queen of the Night, from her captors. Falling in love at the sight of Pamina’s picture, the prince goes on the quest with only the magic flute that the Queen of the Night has given him, and his sidekick, Papageno, who helps him along his way.

BSU Opera Theatre’s production of The Magic Flute opens a three-show run Mar. 3. The opera begins at 7:30 p.m. each night from Mar. 3-5.

Dr. Cory J. Renbarger, assistant professor of music, says that while The Magic Flute’s dialogue will be in English, the cast will be performing music in its original German, with subtitles provided for the audience.

“We are doing all the music in the show in the original German,” Renbarger said. “[It’s the] first time in quite a while foreign language opera has been done here.”

Renbarger is the artistic and stage director for the production. The pit orchestra will be conducted by Scott Guidry, assistant professor of music, with set design by Renbarger and theatre technician Tom Skime.

Auditions for the show were held in late September and casting was completed in early October. The cast and crew will include BSU students, members of the BSU faculty and staff and residents from the Bemidji community.

Renbarger says students are receiving a clear benefit from the experience.

“I have seen the students develop exponentially during this process,” he said. “Academically, it’s such a positive and important thing for them. It’s rewarding to see them have this transformative experience.”

In addition to BSU students and faculty, many members of the Bemidji community will be participating in the production. Some members of the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra will play in the pit, makeup is being designed and applied by Wendy Brown and Bemidji’s Professional Salon Academy, and costumes are being done by BSU alum and professional costumer Fred Rogers.

Tickets
The Magic Flute will be held in the Main Theatre of BSU’s Bangsberg Fine Arts Complex. Tickets are available at the door. The price is $15 for adults and $10 for senior citizens and K-12 students. All BSU and NTC students are admitted free with student ID.

Contact
• Dr. Cory J. Renbarger, assistant professor of music; (218) 755-2867, crenbarger@bemidjistate.edu

Links
• Synopsis of The Magic Flute from the Metropolitan Opera: http://www.metopera.org/Discover/Synposes-Archive/The-Magic-Flute/