The Fraser-Woods School Stages Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’

The Fraser-Woods School’s cultural program theme this year is Classical Music. Earlier in the year the students were educated and entertained by Connecticut Commission on the Arts performers Mike Kachuba and Jeff McQuillan of the Troubadour Trail, and Fanfare Consort, a Connecticut-based period instrument ensemble. The highlight of “The Year of Classical Music” at Fraser-Woods was a magical performance by the children.

Fifty children from grades four through eight performed a special adaptation of a famous opera, which was held in The Playhouse on the Green in Bridgeport.

The children were involved in all aspects of the production including set and costume construction, and stage management. Niki Haghpanah, a seventh grade student, choreographed her own dance solo.

Once upon a time young Prince Tamino was chased through a forest by a dragon. When the prince fainted from fatigue, three young ladies, attendants to the Queen of The Night, appeared and killed the dragon. So begins Mozart’s comic opera, The Magic Flute, which was written to appeal to music lovers of all ages, especially children.

The story of The Magic Flute is complete with dragons, princes, princesses, an evil queen, wise men, and many magical beasts. There are trials of silence and of fire and water all embodied within the beautiful melodic score by Mozart.

In the end, light and goodness triumph over the evil forces of darkness, the feather covered bird catcher Papageno finds true love, and Prince Tamino’s quest to free the lovely Princess Pamina ends in success, and all is right with the world.