Dr. Blaine Hendsbee is excited as a pair of young lovers for The University of Lethbridge’s first full scale production of Mozart’s popular opera  “The Magic Flute,” which runs Feb. 3-4 at Southminster United Church.
“It’s out first collaboration with them, but we’d like to do it annually,” said Dr. Blaine Hendsbee, the Magic Flute’s director, stage director and producer who is also a University of Lethbridge professor and founded the University of Lethbridge opera workshop.
In 2009 they did a smaller scale project with the symphony, Amahl and the Night Visitors.
“That was a much smaller scale. With this one, we hope to do an annual collaboration,” he said.

“The Magic Flute is  a quest. It’s a wonderful story of one man’s (the noble prince Tamino, played by played by Jason Ragan)  search for  courage and love and in the process of finding the love of his life ( Princess Pamina played by U of L masters in voice student Rachel Sinnott) they meet an evil queen (The Queen of the night played by University of Lethbridge alumni Audrina Steciw) and a delightful half bird, half man (Papageno played by Ian Fundytus) who is also looking for love ( Papagena played by Lillian  Zheng),” he enthused.

Ian Fundytus and Lillian  Zheng are  excited about being part of the Magic Flute.
 While Fundytus has performed in operas before, it  will be a new experience for Zheng.
“It’s  probably Mozart’s best known opera,” Fundytus said.
“You can look at it in so many different ways. It can be a fairy tale or fantasy or a comedy, a metaphorical allegory or just sit back and enjoy it,” he continued.
“Hopefully the audiences will come and get excited about it,” Zheng said.

  They have gone all out for their first collaboration. The stage, set at the front of Southminster United Church, features an array of movable pillars, which can be adjusted according to the scene. Vox Musica will be in the east balcony providing an 80 person vocal chorus and the symphony will be playing behind the stage, but with a video link for the 30 member cast can watch the conductor, maestro Glenn Klassen for their cues.

“The orchestra is usually in a pit in front of the stage, but we can’t really dig a hole in the floor of the Southminister United Church, so we’ve turned the limitations of this space to our benefit,” Hendsbee enthused.
 The Magic Flute will be the complete two hour, English language production of the opera, including an intermission.
 They have also installed the University of Lethbridge lights, to make the production as professional as possible.
They cast the production in September but started actively rehearsing it in November.

“They have had to learn their parts well in advance because it is a very muscular, physical production,” he continued.
“Singing opera is like being an Olympic athlete. Everyone can run, but not everyone can run in the Olympics,” he said.
“It combines all of the details of putting on a play with comedy, drama, music and the high art of opera” he said.
He noted having a young, 20-something cast , plus retired University of Lethbridge professor Dr. George Evelyn (who plays the high priest), works well as they are age appropriate for the characters they are playing.

“It’s wonderful to see people who look like they are in their 20s playing and acting like people in their 20s and singing these parts,” he enthused.
 In the meantime, the University of Lethbridge’s costume department,  headed by Leslie Robison-Green has been hard at work creating innovative costumes for the production.


 Tickets for the show must be purchased in advance from the ticket centre.
Tickets: Section A - $60, Section B - $47, Section C - $28 and Section D Adult - $15, Section D Student/Senior - $13.
Prices do not include GST and fees. The Ticket Centre will be open on concert days until 8 p.m. The show begins at 8 p.m. Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 at Southminster United Church.