The Magic Flute: Mozart's most popular opera is given an Irish twist

The King And I Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin Until June 1

High note: Soprano Anna Devin brings plenty of anguish to her role. Photo by Pat Redmond

Katy Hayes

Irish National Opera, in its second year of programming, brings Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most popular opera to Irish audiences, its German libretto by Emanuel Schikander sung with English surtitles. The Magic Flute is often people's first experience of opera; its fairytale ambience and comical strain make it suitable for younger audiences, while its virtuosic singing parts and musical inventiveness satisfy the most demanding of elders.

It is essentially a fairytale. The Queen of the Night persuades Prince Tamino to rescue her daughter Pamina who has been kidnapped by the high priest Sarastro. Tamino sets off to accomplish this but must first pass through a number of trials.