Papageno - Nathan Gunn

[platon1988]

Can someone tell me where I can find this rendition.

[arqpita]

"My life´s my own so bright and free..."Papgeno is the Mozart alter ego!

[illinicside]

I know him personally and I go to school with one of his children beat that people out there!

[Boerenfox]

The mise-en-scene is simply fanastic and innovative. Wolfgang would have enjoyed to see his play being performed with so much pleasure.

[itsthequietones]

Absolutely beautiful production! I love many versions of the magic flute, but this feels particularly fresh :)

[RandomTask3000]

what is the name of the performance?

[19Spade87]

awww, cute idea with the birds at the beginning and the shadow behind the paper wall... first time I see the english version of the magic flute... the translation isn't 1:1 but that's impossible I guess...

[Xeno8345]

is he wearing a backwards baseball cap..... what the?

[Luindriel]

@Xeno8345 Yes, he's wearing a backwards baseball cap... it's an entire baseball catcher outfit. Birdcatcher, baseball catcher... ;) When he jumps off the platform he makes a baseball catcher move as he says he's a birdcatcher. :*)

[MandeeSparkle]

@Luindriel Brilliant costume designer! How fun to do something different.

[TheSnorkelbuddy]

Who is the tenor in this production?

[Luindriel]

@TheSnorkelbuddy Matthew Polenzani.

[mwalauren]

Feeric : Papageno !

[Elvhaj]

es hermoso es magico es mozart

[Jragir]

*shakes head*

While I can only appreciate the talent of the singer involved, and Nathan Gunn is indeed talented, I personally enjoy the German version more. That's not to say the English version is bad, it just...  Doesn't sound quite right :P

[MrsPisaroni]

I Loved this performance....normally I HATE opera sung in English but this is definately an exception to the rule. Nathan Gunn was excellent.......incredibly muscular legs....hmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!

[tl1358]

Why would anyone give a crap what language this is in? Enjoy it for what it is. Opera purist are such idiots. I suppose all of the instruments in the orchestra should be German made?

[felicianomusic]

Nathan Gunn is the sexiest papageno ever. Opera sung in the local language is a fabulous way to get new audiences into opera so they'll want to see it in the original language thus preserving the art form for all of us.

[Luindriel]

@felicianomusic Thank you for your nice comment on this video. About the language, I mean. We all know about the other thing, lol.

[odis66]

@felicianomusic

..local language is OK.

What we see here (German->English) works.

But I`ve seen on stage so much horrible translations of italian Operas in German...

[pmclaxer24]

@felicianomusic maybe if the met dropped their prices a little it'd draw more people too....

[felicianomusic]

@pmclaxer24 WORD!

[btavares83]

Mozart will die again hearing this in English......pity

[Luindriel]

Silly btavares!! Mozart would have applauded it!! Opera traditionally has been translated into the "local" language because it sold more tickets. Read the other comments here and poke around online for info - Mozart was all for translating and modifying if it meant more ticket sales. :)

[lucyliesinashes]

This is at the Met a few years ago. I'm not a fan of this production (or doing it in English- this was the Family presentation).

That being said, Rock on, Nathan :)

[enxthegreat]

Nice

[greedymuppet]

I didn't enjoy this version very much. There was no subtlety and the acting was overdone or completely inconsistent with the theme of the song---the Queen of the Night was smiling while singing about her kidnapped daughter. I guess I felt it played down to the audience a bit too much. Kind of reminded me of the "action movie" of the opera productions, you know? Beautiful sets, though.

[branko1b]

this and some other comments show missing the point of the piece altogether - Mozart himself would have most likely enjoyed the translation - he wrote it as an entertainment piece for masses (against a common "knowledge" the opera can be sung only in italian) surely it is more entertaining to english speaking audience to hear it in english - one should not approach MF in the same way as, say, Strauss' Electra

[Arnarkusaga]

You make a good point, but this opera (Die Zauberflöte) was originally German, not Italian.

[branko1b]

@Arnarkusaga - my point is based on an analogy ... a very simple cognitive process

[Arnarkusaga]

I'm aware of what an analogy is. However, you said "the opera", which I assumed meant the Magic Flute, which is not Italian. Although, If you meant that Mozart wrote it in German when Italian Opera was popular, then yes, I agree.

[branko1b]

@Arnarkusaga no offence intended by my last message - just to finish that thought: Mozart sacrificed his reputation - it was not a good thing to be known as (or even worse to be a confirmed) non-conformist, for his idea that the ordinary crowd should enjoy the opera in their language - theory is that had he lived on, he would have written more operas in German - that is, in, what for him was, the very language of the "ordinary crowd" ...

that was my point

[Arnarkusaga]

Agreed. Which is why I don't think he would have minded if his operas were translated to allow other people to enjoy them. I think if he were alive, he would have insisted upon it.

[Sieglinde84]

Is this from ENO?

Don't like it in English though. Even more weirdthan in Swedish.

[Luindriel]

What's ENO?

[gloria25031]

That is the English National Opera in the Pallidum, in London, I think!

[ksmithsoprano]

@Luindriel English National Opera- performs all of its productions in English, regardless of original language. Mozart wanted to write an English opera and had been searching for some librettos. However, he also felt very strongly about creating a national German Opera form, similar to French Grand Opera. And let's not forget that his three most famous Italian works were written in Austria and Prague.

[ksmithsoprano]

Also, from a performing aspect, it's very difficult to get a translation that captures the flavor of the original language and contains the appropriate vowels for high notes and singing through the passaggio. I appreciate getting new people exposed to opera, but I personally prefer singing in the original language, especially when you realize what care Mozart took in crafting the music to the libretto and demanding the libretto suit the needs of his music.

[sopranistin13]

This production is from the Met. It was part of their "Live in HD" series in 2006-7.

[gloria25031]

I cannot thank you enough for posting this incredible videos of Nathan Gunn. He truly is one of THE GREATEST operatic baritones of our generation. He'll certainly become a legend! I think his Papageno is by far the best! I love your channel so much I just subscribe to it! A million thanks!

[Orfeo68]

Julie Taymor...she lunches with the gods of theatre!!!!

[peduzzi89]

I'm gonna vote no on singing this in English

[wookieehut]

nathan gunn as papageno is perfect, no matter which language he's speaking or singing. love his hat! (not sure why people are so down on translated works. many feel the same way about anime translations too, for goodness sake! they don't even take the quality of the translations or lip-flap matching into account.  such high-falutin' snobbery, haha!) a very refreshing and entertaining production, thank you very much for your postings!! (your children are lucky, too!)

[Luindriel]

Yes he is the best Papageno I've ever seen. The whole baseball catcher getup is cute.

But slow down! Just 1 child, lol. ;)

[solobasstunes]

Thank you for this... interesting translation. I prefer it in German though.

[Jagtarro]

I like how I know what's going on >.>; lol =p

German version is still the best though, original ftw

[joninho22]

the tech for this show is incredible, although I'm not sure i like the production itself (english and all)

[kong56]

omg!! I love nathan gunn as papageno , his amazing!!