"Tom Boyd's clever and reverential adaptation bristles with topical witticisms, pomp, sparkle....a stirring pageant which Emanuael Schikaneder and Wolfgang Amadeus would have doubtless approved. Delightful!" (BBC Gloucestershire)

"Tom Boyd has once again supplied his own brand-new, sparkling English libretto...spiced with plenty of humour...a refreshing take on Mozart and Schikaneder's masterpiece." (the OXFORD TIMES)

Tom Boyd's production, like his topical libretto, is both accessible and full of imaginative flourishes. (The Gloucestershire ECHO)

"Tom Boyd's new English libretto was a particular delight...a splendidly light-hearted version which kept the audience greatly entertained." (Wilts and Gloucestershire STANDARD)

 

This English version begins in modern Britain with the young Prince Tamino being pursued by the paparazzi. We are transported to ancient Britain, with Sarastro as King of Albion amongst the Druids - his sanctuary being Stonehenge. Monostatos, being a Celt, is blue rather than the traditional, but pc unacceptable, black. Tom Boyd's version is full of historical pageantry, magical mysticism, and humour, as all the critics pointed out.

ACT I - HRH Prince Tamino is saved by the 3 Ladies

ACT I -Monostatas burns with lust

ACT I - Queen of the Night aria

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ACT II - the Quintet

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ACT II - Pamina's lament

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 ACT II - Trial by fire and by water

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ACT II - the Evil Ones are overpowered by Sarastro

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ACT II - Papageno finds his Papagena

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ACT II - The Coronation of Prince Tamino - end of the opera

Licensing agent: Bel Canto Opera, Poulton House, Cirencester Glos.GL7 5HW. email: belcanto.opera@btinternet.com

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