The Magic Flute – ’Der Vogelfanger bin Ich ja’ (Mozart; Roderick Williams)

Mozart’s glorious opera is brought enchantingly to life in David McVicar’s production with beautiful designs by John Macfarlane. Roderick Williams sings ’Der Vogelfanger bin Ich ja’. The Magic Flute is available to watch now – along with over 60 other extraordinary productions – on Royal Opera House Stream. Watch the whole performance now at Mozart wrote Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) for a suburban theatre in Vienna, the Theater auf der Wieden. He drew on the magical spectacle and earthy comedy of popular Viennese theatre. As well as being a comedy, The Magic Flute is an expression of Mozart’s profound spiritual beliefs: Enlightenment concerns with the search for wisdom and virtue are at the heart of this enchanting tale. The Magic Flute was an instant success with audiences and Mozart’s supposed rival Salieri described it as an ‘operone’ – a great opera. David McVicar’s classic production embraces both the seriousness and comedy of Mozart’s work. The audience is transported to a fantastical world of dancing animals, flying machines and dazzlingly starry skies. The setting provides a wonderful backdrop for Mozart’s kaleidoscopic score, from the Queen of the Night’s coloratura fireworks to Tamino and Pamina’s lyrical love duets and Papageno’s hearty, folksong-like arias.