Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (live From Ludwigsburger Schlosstheater, 1992)
It was certainly remarkable that only a year after all the Mozart anniversary performances in 1991, the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele decided on a Magic Flute production. The premiere of the production recorded here took place on 26 August 1992. This was no easy task for director Axel Manthey and conductor Wolfgang Gönnenwein. With clear, naïve images combined with a beautiful, dramatic play of colours, Manthey succeeds in teasing out the different aspects of this opera. The larger-than-life symbols(snake, lightning, tree) also help with this. The singers Deon van der Walt, Ulrike Sonntag, Thomas Mohr and Patrizia Rozario give a thrilling performance, which convinces musically as well as through their intensive acting.

Arthaus Musik GmbH (Naxos Deutschland GmbH)