Central Wisconsin News

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will stage one of the most renowned operas, "The Magic Flute," this month, not only at the university but also in the community.

Mozart’s opera will be shown by the Department of Music’s Opera Workshop. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, at Michelsen Hall located in the Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage St., Stevens Point.

"The Magic Flute" tells the story of Prince Tamino's quest to rescue Pamina, the Queen of the Night's daughter. The music will be in German, accompanied by English supertitles, and the dialogue will be presented in English. The UWSP Symphony Orchestra will provide the musical accompaniment under the guidance of Associate Professor Andres Moran.

“This is an opera that has a story for everyone,” said UW-Stevens Point senior voice major Jaden Richards from Montello, who plays Tamino. “It offers fantastical elements and trials to overcome that mirror real life.”

Matthew Markham, the director and producer of the opera and a professor of voice at UW-Stevens Point, stated, “’The Magic Flute’ is performed more than any other opera in the world and is enjoyed by children and adults. It is equally enjoyable for the opera lover and for someone hearing it for the first time.”

The opera will showcase a cast of 25 students with colorful sets and costumes designed to depict a fantasy dreamworld. Markham noted that the opera provides challenging voice roles for students and features music familiar to audiences.

Tickets are available to the general public for $17 and can be bought online at tickets.uwsp.edu or by calling 715-346-4100.

Furthermore, a condensed version of "The Magic Flute," with a smaller cast, will be staged for the community in English with piano accompaniment. This version will be presented at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in UW-Stevens Point’s Michelsen Hall, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at the Point Opera House Annex, 1136 Main Street, Stevens Point. The Opera House performance marks the first event in the newly renovated space, and these performances are free, open to the public, and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

More than 900 local school children will have the opportunity to see the modified version as it tours local schools in Stevens Point, Wausau, Schofield, and Waupaca.

“We are always trying to share this artform with people of all ages,” commented Markham. “This opera works well for that, as it is a fairy tale layered with the depth of life’s trials and tribulations. It’s a timeless story.”