Mozart’s allegorical fairy tale has charmed audiences and inspired artists, for more than 200 years. A few weeks before this telecast, the Met unveiled a new production of the opera featuring the colorful designs of acclaimed artist David Hockney. His bold colors and vivid images enchanted audiences and seemed to inspire the striking cast, led by James Levine’s affectionate conducting. Francisco Araiza is the young prince Tamino, who finds himself in a strange land, forced to undergo mysterious tests so he can rescue, then marry, the woman he loves, Pamina, played by Kathleen Battle. Kurt Moll is the compassionate Sarastro and Luciana Serra is the Queen of the Night.
Francisco AraizaTamino
Kathleen BattlePaminaManfred HemmPapageno
Kurt MollSarastro
Luciana SerraThe Queen of the NightBarbara KilduffPapagena
Andreas SchmidtSpeaker of the Temple
James CourtneyFirst Priest
Bernard FitchSecond Priest
Heinz ZednikMonostatosJuliana GondekFirst LadyMimi LernerSecond Lady
Judith ChristinThird LadyTed HuffmanFirst BoyBenjamin SchottSecond Boy