The Magic Flute (DVD, 2000, Criterion Collection)

Mozart interpreted by Ingmar Bergman - what more could you want?

This slightly quirky version of the Magic Flute is presented as a movie about a stage performance of the opera. You see goings-on backstage and the audience reactions to the performance. The players are, on the whole, excellent - Tamino being perhaps a bit weak. Papageno is superb!!

It's originally for Swedish TV, so it's TV screen ratio and just stereo sound but this Criterion DVD is good quality considering all that. Buy it.

I saw this film in the theater. I loved it. Why? I started a lengthy review; mentioning Mozart, Bergman, talented cast, innovative camera work, but, for me, The Queen of the Night owns this film. Her terrifying, desperate "only-minutes-long" aria - including arguably the best make-up, costume, lighting, music, and camera work in entire film - demands to be experienced! The Queen of the Night's aria IS this movie. She stops the viewer's breath when she suddenly blasts into the scene, wreaks terror with her aria, and finally threateningly hovers high in the air as she finishes. A viewer then can breathe again after possibly the most frightening, exciting moment in the opera genre. Highly recommended!

This is the exact Magic Flute version that I loved as a little girl! I am so thrilled about this DVD! I was looking for something like this for quite some time, and finally can get one! This is funny, but romantic, and the character and comments of the Father really make you think. The music is so soothing and uplifting. The characters are very believeable. I highly recommend this version over the other ones.