Opera Atelier celebrates its 40th anniversary with the return of Mozart’s enchanting fairy tale, The Magic Flute, at the Elgin Theatre, from October 15-19, 2025. One of the most popular productions in Opera Atelier’s repertoire and sung in Andrew Porter’s acclaimed English translation, The Magic Flute is a dazzling blend of comedy and fantasy, in which dragons and spirits roam and perseverance is rewarded by true love. The family-friendly production will open Opera Atelier’s 2025/26 season, fully staged and directed by Opera Atelier Co-Artistic Director Marshall Pynkoski and choreographed by Opera Atelier Co-Artistic Director Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg.
“Mozart’s The Magic Flute is a glorious fairy tale originally created to entertain music and theatre lovers of 18th century Austria from every class of society,” says Opera Atelier Co-Artistic Director Pynkoski. “If we wish to realize the original intention of Mozart and the comic genius of his collaborator, Emanuel Schikaneder, accessibility to this delightful work is Opera Atelier’s most important goal – a goal we are immensely proud to have accomplished.”
One of the most frequently performed operas worldwide, The Magic Flute is Mozart’s greatest popular success. It tells the tale of a prince, Tamino, who is sent by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Pamina from her nemesis Sarastro. Accompanied by the incorrigible birdman Papageno and aided by a magic flute, Tamino ventures into Sarastro’s kingdom and soon finds that all is not as it seems.
Opera Atelier’s production of The Magic Flute features set design by Gerard Gauci and lighting by Kimberly Purtell. Music Director David Fallis conducts Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, and Toronto’s celebrated Nathaniel Dett Chorale will join Opera Atelier as the onstage chorus, for the first time.
The Magic Flute will include a number of artists making their role debuts, including soprano Meghan Lindsay as Pamina, baritone Douglas Williams as Papageno, and tenor Blaise Rantoanina as Monastatos. Internationally acclaimed coloratura soprano Rainelle Krause will make her highly anticipated Opera Atelier debut as the Queen of the Night, following triumphs in the role at the Dutch National Opera and the English National Opera.
Tenor Colin Ainsworth will return as Tamino in one of his signature roles with Opera Atelier. Other featured artists include Stephen Hegedus (Sarastro), Carla Huhtanen (First Lady), Danielle MacMillan (Second Lady), Laura Pudwell (Third Lady), Karine White (Papagena), Olivier Laquerre (Speaker/Second Armed Man), and Alexander Cappellazzo (First Armed Man). The trio of Spirits will be performed by Katie Lair, Alison Beckwith, and Cynthia Akemi-Smithers.
The production will also showcase the full corps of the Artists of Atelier Ballet. Adds Opera Atelier Co-Artistic Director/Choreographer Lajeunesse Zingg, “Dancers are seldom included in modern productions of The Magic Flute. But once again, we are taking our lead from Schickaneder’s own stage directions, which call for the second half of the opera to open with a ballet for the priests of Sarastro’s temple.”
Redesigned by Gerard Gauci in 2013, this enchanting production brings to life dragons, flying machines, and striking 18th-century special effects that create a fairy tale atmosphere for audiences of all ages.
Tickets and information at OperaAtelier.com
Opera Atelier gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and the Consulat général de France a Toronto.
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