CONCERT VARIANT OF MOZART’S THE MAGIC FLUTE OPERA TO BE PERFORMED ON YEREVAN NATIONAL OPERA STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME

Noyan Tapan
Mar 14 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The 250th jubilee of Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart will be celebrated by the performance of the concert
variant of the composer’s “The Magic Flute” opera on March 17 and
18 at the Yerevan National Opera and Ballet Academic Theater after
Alexander Spendiarian. The concert performance of “The Magic Flute”
on the Yerevan stage will be headed by Swiss famous conductor Facundo
Agudin. The premierre of the opera performance will also take place
under his head in May-June.

As Gegham Grigorian, the Artistic Head of the National Opera and
Ballet Academic Theater stated at the march 14 press-conference,
director of “The Magic Flute” opera Michael Locher is from Germany,
Sean MacAllister from Italy is the lighting designer, and the clothes
designer is Ann Spinelli from Switzerland.

According to Gegham Grigorian, entrance of one of the Yerevan
performances will be free for children and booklets dedicated to Mozart
and “The Magic Flute” will be published specially for that purpose.

Besides that, the performance will be released by DVDs as well as will
be broadcast in Armenia and a number of European countries. Spanish
journalist and photographer Rodrigo Carrizo Couto who is in Armenia
during these days will cover the concert for press of Spain,
Switzerland, France and Argentina.

Conductor Facundo Agudin’s cooperation with the National Opera and
Ballet Academic Theater started still in 2005 when the famous conductor
arrived in Armenia to participate in the premierre of composer David
Halajian’s “Stephan Elmas” piano concert.

“I’m very glad to be in Armenia. It’s an excellent opportunity for
me to work with the staff of the National Opera and Ballet Theater,”
the Swiss director mentioned. According to him, it seldom happens
that both orchestra and choir and soloists work at the theater so
jointly. “A wonderful working atmosphere is created here. I’m very
glad that I put on the stage that great work of Mozart just in this
theater,” Facundo Agudin emphasized.

Gegham Grigorian mentioned that a Mozart was for the last time put
on the Armenian stage 30 years ago. The Artistic Head of the theater
is sure that they will again put on the stage “Don Juan” as well as
the composer’s other works as the theater today has that potential.