SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

Mozart, The Magic Flute: Soloists, Orchestra. Conductor: Reinaldo Zemba, Teatro Avenida, Buenos Aires. 5.6.2009. (JSJ)

Director/lighting: Eduardo Casullo
Costumes: Mariela Daga
Chorus: Ezequiel Fautario

Cast:
Tamino: Carlos Ullán / Maico Chia-I Hsiao
Pamina: Graciela Oddone / Oriana Favaro
Papageno: Luciano Garay
Papagena: Laura Penchi
Queen of the Night: Natalia Quiroga / Natalia Vivas
Sarastro: Lucas Debevec Mayer
Speaker: Edgardo Zecca
Three Ladies: Claudia Montagna, Trinidad Goyeneche, Verónica Canaves
Monostatos: Fabián Frías
Priests: Osvaldo Ledesma, Pablo Basualdo
Three Boys: Clara Pinto, Anahi Fernández Caballero, Javiera Paredes

Carlos Ullán (Tamino) and the magic beasts

Fundamús (Fundación para la música) is another prívate group in Buenos Aires seeking to promote music in general and opera in particular in the community, and providing a platform for young singers. Its profile is perhaps not quite as high as those of other groups but nor is its season of operas as ambitious and also these make up only one aspect of its activities, which also include concerts and other complementary events.

That said Fundamús’ second work of its season, The Magic Flute, is a fairly ambitious work to put on, both technically and musically. The scenic aspects were solved through the projection of photographic images and lighting, and the musical with a cast comprising both young as well as more experienced singers.

Particularly noteworthy too was the use of Spanish for the dialogue sections of the work. Although grating somewhat with the normal German of the sung sections, nevertheless this drew the audience into the story far more than could have the surtitles alone.

Carlos Ullán as Tamino and Graciela Oddone as Pamina made an excellent pair, he resolute and she equally passionate. Likewise Luciano Garay as Papageno and Laura Penchi as Papagena were outstanding, from both the acting and vocal perspectives. Lucas Debevec Mayer, one of the exceptional younger singers, made a dignified Sarastro, and Natalia Quiroga as Queen of the Night, while still young, shows considerable promise.  The other parts were mostly satisfactorily sung, not in all cases with spot on timing, and a tight focus was kept in the orchestra by the conductor, director of the Symphony Orchestra of Entre Rios, Reinaldo Zemba.

Jonathan Spencer Jones

Picture - Courtesy of Fundamús, Buenos Aires