THE BEST INTERPRETATION. HIS UNDERSTANDINGS AND THE WAY HE FELT THE MUSIC WAS SUPERB. I really wished the audience clapped louder and probably even given a standing ovation for him.
Absolutely brilliant. What passion. Even after half a century of seeing this opera in London (both houses), The Met, Opera Nationale, and even Nevill Holt, this gave some really fresh insights! WELL DONE!
I think this is a delightful and fun lecture (for a delightful and fun opera!). The critical remarks below are just plain wrong and mean-spirited. It seems to me that Mozart liked to shock, surprise and "wow" his audience. I'm believe Mozart would have loved this man's enthusiastic style, and especially his obvious & all-consuming appreciation of this masterpiece. Bravo Sir!
A wonderful professional and informative presentation. His talent at playing and singing his examples made this a very entertaining and informative presentation.
17:43 I must have missed something, but I never saw the Queen of the night as superstitious. Her character is one of rage and manipulation. All she does is manipulate Tamino to rescue her daughter while proceeding to rage at said daughter to kill Sarastro. No where are those "religious attitudes" he was talking about. Confusion and chaos? absolutely, but religion? I think not. In fact I find Sarastro more indicative of religion then anything. His trials are very cult like and have nothing to do with proving one's wit or rational capability. He talks about his sacred duty to spread light to the world in the same way Christian missionaries want to spread the word of Jesus. And his followers praise his every step as if he was god. Now I know it's all suppose to be allegorical and symbolic, but If a casual viewer, who was new to opera and ignorant of the subtext, where to watch this I can easily see them as suspecting Sarastro as the villian of the story, even after we are told he's not. Other then that, I find his take on Tamino and Popegano as different aspects of human nature fun and insightful. I have to suspect that this dissonance just comes from the fact modern audiences are so alienated from the thoughts and feelings of people actually going through the enlightenment. I'm sure it was considered more obvious to people back then. It doesn't help that, being modern viewers, we are accustomed to modern storytelling tropes to the point where it becomes distracting. Like seriously, I thought there was more romantic chemistry between Popegano and Pamina in that one scene when they are singing about finding love, then all the scenes with Pamina and Tamino combined. So to be honest and in conclusion, I have mixed feelings about the story of The Magic Flute, but I still love the music and the passion this man has for this opera is very admirable.
This man overacts all the time as if he were before an audience of little children in a school show; I find a bit annoying so much emphasis, The Magic Flute is a masterpiece that doesn’t need such a histrionic performance to be explained.
No masterpiece exists without a good history that can be learned, interpreted, re-expressed by artists themselves; and comprehended and appreciated by the majority.
The guy is trying a bit too hard, but is actually not teaching anything. It is just talk unless you are already initiated. He says the opera has more balance than earlier operas. Ok, but show it specifically. etc etc
This man is magnetic. I wish I had him as a music teacher
THE BEST INTERPRETATION. HIS UNDERSTANDINGS AND THE WAY HE FELT THE MUSIC WAS SUPERB. I really wished the audience clapped louder and probably even given a standing ovation for him.
Absolutely brilliant. What passion. Even after half a century of seeing this opera in London (both houses), The Met, Opera Nationale, and even Nevill Holt, this gave some really fresh insights!
WELL DONE!
A most inspiring lecture on Mozart's masterpiece.
I think this is a delightful and fun lecture (for a delightful and fun opera!). The critical remarks below are just plain wrong and mean-spirited. It seems to me that Mozart liked to shock, surprise and "wow" his audience. I'm believe Mozart would have loved this man's enthusiastic style, and especially his obvious & all-consuming appreciation of this masterpiece. Bravo Sir!
He is so great explaining. His voice, knowledge, and passion.
Thank you. I learned alot. Love your teaching style.
Fantastic lecture! Loved learning more about my favorite opera.
Absolutely brilliant!!!! Thank you so much!!
Wow this was so well presented!
A wonderful professional and informative presentation. His talent at playing and singing his examples made this a very entertaining and informative presentation.
excellent, inspiring, magnetic, entlighting................
This was brilliant. Thank you so much for sharing this, MN Opera!
Wonderful talk!
😍 loved it
This is AMAZING ❤️
Hey there company from the cast of The Magic Flute I want you to make a film of Charlotte's web
The Magic Flute is the world's first Disney musical.
The best
Disney's Tangled is basically The Magic Flute updated for the 21st century. I swear.
no it’s not😂
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
my panties are dripping, lol. dude is amazing. #passion
Who is he?
00:10 It says Rob Ainsley, Head of Music, Minnesota Opera (2015)
17:43 I must have missed something, but I never saw the Queen of the night as superstitious. Her character is one of rage and manipulation. All she does is manipulate Tamino to rescue her daughter while proceeding to rage at said daughter to kill Sarastro. No where are those "religious attitudes" he was talking about. Confusion and chaos? absolutely, but religion? I think not. In fact I find Sarastro more indicative of religion then anything. His trials are very cult like and have nothing to do with proving one's wit or rational capability. He talks about his sacred duty to spread light to the world in the same way Christian missionaries want to spread the word of Jesus. And his followers praise his every step as if he was god. Now I know it's all suppose to be allegorical and symbolic, but If a casual viewer, who was new to opera and ignorant of the subtext, where to watch this I can easily see them as suspecting Sarastro as the villian of the story, even after we are told he's not. Other then that, I find his take on Tamino and Popegano as different aspects of human nature fun and insightful. I have to suspect that this dissonance just comes from the fact modern audiences are so alienated from the thoughts and feelings of people actually going through the enlightenment. I'm sure it was considered more obvious to people back then. It doesn't help that, being modern viewers, we are accustomed to modern storytelling tropes to the point where it becomes distracting. Like seriously, I thought there was more romantic chemistry between Popegano and Pamina in that one scene when they are singing about finding love, then all the scenes with Pamina and Tamino combined. So to be honest and in conclusion, I have mixed feelings about the story of The Magic Flute, but I still love the music and the passion this man has for this opera is very admirable.
quite perceptive,presented in a quite irritating manner.
I love the presentation. Very impassioned.
Makes me nervous how he talks making all the splashes landing on people’s faces on the first row. just too much-
This man overacts all the time as if he were before an audience of little children in a school show; I find a bit annoying so much emphasis, The Magic Flute is a masterpiece that doesn’t need such a histrionic performance to be explained.
No masterpiece exists without a good history that can be learned, interpreted, re-expressed by artists themselves; and comprehended and appreciated by the majority.
It's funny that you make such criticisms about an opera that is anything but adult in its form of expression
Who knows how Mozart himself would talk about his music? Maybe we would be shocked. 🙂
The guy is trying a bit too hard, but is actually not teaching anything. It is just talk unless you are already initiated.
He says the opera has more balance than earlier operas. Ok, but show it specifically. etc etc