FIMFA Lx11

Thalias Kompagnons

Germany

The Magic Flute: an examination

TEATRO NACIONAL D. MARIA II - Sala Garrett

3, 4 June at 9.30pm

Friday and Saturday

Idea, direction and puppeteers: Tristan Vogt and Joachim Torbahn Countertenor: Daniel Gloger Live orchestra: ensembleKONTRASTE Puppets and scenography: Joachim Torbahn Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, arranged by Marcus Maria Reißenberger Text: after the libretto of Emanuel Schikaneder Fotografias: Erich Malter Co-production: Thalias Kompagnons, ensembleKONTRASTE & Tafelhalle Nürnberg Technique: Hand puppets and video For audiences over: M/12 Time: 80 min. Language: Germany with Portuguese subtitles

No one has ever seen such a fun adaptation of this opera. The actors are the puppets made of papier-mache and plush which get hold of the text remaining faithful to it, while the singer changes the tessitura of his voice (from soprano to low) in a frenzied rhythm. On stage, musicians are sited on both sides of a glass frame in which Vogt and Torbahn play with puppets. The scene is filmed and projected via video camera on a giant screen above the stage. A never seen before mix of puppets, video and opera...

Two puppeteers give a truly magical performance as they draw the curtain and the story of Prince Tamino, his beloved Pamina, a near-crazy Queen of the Night, and the sadistic Sarastro unfolds.

The renowned countertenor Daniel Gloger lends the puppets his amazingly versatile voice; a live orchestra of eight musicians guarantees utmost musical pleasure. This “Magic Flute” from Nuremberg is refreshingly different and much sought after; with good reason it has been invited to festivals not only in Germany, but in Austria, Croatia, Denmark, France, Japan, Poland and Switzerland as well.

“Wild applause like after a pop concert, the audience in a tremendous mood and the performers charmingly cheeky and profoundly entertaining – and yet, it was an opera by Mozart. This astonishing success is accomplished by Thalias Kompagnons with their highly original best-of version of the Magic Flute”.

Wiener Zeitung.

BIO

Thalias Kompagnons was founded in 1990 by Tristan Vogt and Joachim Torbahn as a professional freelance touring company. In 1997 the company (in partnership with Theater Salz & Pfeffer) opened their own theatre in Nurnberg, Germany. They get support from the City of Nurnberg, the county of Mittelfranken, and the government of Bavaria.

Thalias Kompagnons tours to theatre-festivals both nationally and internationally, including Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Finland, Slovenia, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Israel, South Korea, Japan and Australia. Their productions present an interesting mix between puppets, theatre, painting, music and animation and with their shows of theatre/painting – live painting/music they have created a special synthesis of art and theatre.