As I made my way to the VIP entrance (a welcome reviewers’ perk) at the Hull New Theatre on Thursday evening, I had to navigate my way through throngs of queuing theatregoers.
Opera lovers abound in the former City of Culture, and they were certainly out in force when Opera North’s production of The Magic Flute came to town.
Mozart composed the music for this fairytale-type opera that premiered on September 30, 1791- just two months before his death.
Originally penned by Emanuel Schikaneder, Opera North’s version was written by British theatre director, composer and lyricist, Jeremy Sams.
Directed by James Brining and performed in the English language, the opening scene showed a young girl in her bedroom while, next door, drunken grown-ups, in evening wear, partied. The youngst...