Die Zauberflote [Magic Flute] (Complete, recorded live in 2011) BLU-RAY

"This is a wonderful performance...I was more moved and enchanted by this than by any other Magic Flute I have seen on DVD...[Esposito's Papageno] sung with glorious abandon, while his acting strikes notes of pathos...Kuhmeier is as expressive as it's possible to be, without transgressing Mozart's idiom...The most sensational performance is by [Shagimuratova], the finest Queen of the Night I have ever heard...This is a noble, ennobling achievement."
(BBC Music DVD & Blu-ray Choice - April 2012)

"It is world-worthy; the conception, by South African artist William Kentridge, emphasizes the concepts of light and dark, exploration and love...It's endlessly good to look at...Musically, there is also much to admire...Esposito's Papageno is a well-sung charmer - more serious than many, deeply sincere...this is a fascinating take on the work that Flute aficionados will appreciate for plenty of reasons."
(International Record Review)

Gramophone Magazine - DVD & Blu-ray of the Month - May 2012

From the Queen of the Night's vocal pyrotechnics to Papageno's chirpy birdsongs, The Magic Flute is one of Mozart's most charming and engaging operas. However, its fairytale surface conceals the mysteries of an initiation ritual and a multi-layered plot, packed with allegories to fire up the imagination.

This celebrated production by artist William Kentridge joyfully bursts onto the stage of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, featuring the dazzling Russian coloratura Albina Shagimuratova as the Queen of the Night, and Italian bass Alex Esposito as Papageno, one of the most sought after artists of his generation.

Extra features:

Overview of the Magic Flute

Cast gallery

Running time 150 mins

Region Code All regions

Picture format 1080i High Definition / 16:9

Sound format 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS