FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2013

Contact: Alea Vorillas, Publicity Director (347) 948-4588

press@amoreopera.org

Amore Presents American Premiere of Magic Flute II: Das Labyrinth, in conjunction with Mozart’s The Magic Flute

This October, the Amore Opera will revisit a beloved opera and add a new chapter to its story by staging productions of Mozart’s The Magic Flute and the American premiere of its newly rediscovered sequel, Das Labyrinth. With lyrics by the original librettist, Emanuel Shikaneder, and music by Peter von Winter, a major composer of the period who had studied with Mozart’s rival Salieri, the opera features the same cast of fantastical yet sympathetic characters as they face unforeseen obstacles and embark on new adventures. When we last saw Pamina and Tamino at the end of The Magic Flute, the happy couple was about to marry with Sarastro’s blessing, witnessed by the birdlike couple Papageno and Papagena—en route to matrimonial bliss of their own. As Das Labyrinth begins, the vengeful Queen of the Night combines forces with Prince Tipheus to wage war on Sarastro’s army and prevent Pamina’s marriage to Tamino. Papageno is reunited with his long lost parents and young siblings, a tribe of ‘kleine Papagenos and Papagenas’ played by the Amore Opera Children’s Chorus. Meanwhile, Sarastro’s banished slave, Monostatos disguises himself to pursue Papagena and make her his bride. Multiple forces come into play as the Queen’s ladies disguise themselves as Venus and Cupid and vie for Tamino and Pamina’s love; a reptilian temptress lures Papageno away from his betrothed; and the magical glockenspiel continues to weave its charms over the characters. Das Labyrinth was a sensation when it first premiered in 1798. “Schikaneder's opera Das Labyrinth with music by Winter is the sole musical news,” wrote a reviewer for Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung on the occasion of a 1803 Berlin production. “The sheer diversity and richness, the wonderful music-powerful yet pleasing and continually varied, … all of this gave the greatest pleasure.” However, the opera subsequently fell into obscurity after several decades of popularity until a production at the 2012 Salzburg Festival brought it back onto the stage. Independently, Amore Opera conducted extensive scholarship and research to recreate its own version of the Das Labyrinth score. It turned to several libraries including the Bavarian State Library in Munich, the University of Michigan, and, most importantly, Winter's autograph score which is held at the Berlin State Library to recreate the orchestra score and individual parts, as well as to fashion a piano score. In addition, the investigation yielded discoveries that were not on display in Salzburg such as a second act duet between Papagena and Monastotos and the seductive dance of Gura, Monoastos' sister. When these numbers are performed by Amore, it will be the first time audiences hear them in more than 200 years. This project was largely undertaken by Amore’s Artistic Director, Nathan Hull, with great help from James Stenborg and Das Labyrinth’s Assistant Conductor, Michael Wittenburg.

Page  2  -­‐  Amore  Opera  Press  Release  10/2013    This is the third consecutive season that Amore Opera has presented the American Premiere of a forgotten work, beginning in 2011 with Mercadante’s I Due Figaro, continuing in 2012 with Donizetti’s Olivo e Pasquale and now Winter’s Das Labyrinth, all conducted by Maestro Gregory Buchalter, conductor at the Metropolitan Opera and directed by Nathan Hull. The company has also conveniently scheduled performances, so audiences will be able to view both The Magic Flute and Das Labyrinth in order on the same day {Sunday, October 20} or over the course of a weekend {Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26}

The American Premiere of The Magic Flute II: Das Labyrinth

by Schikaneder and von Winter (1798) (sung in German with English subtitles and English dialogue)

Conductor: Gregory Buchalter / Director: Nathan Hull

Das Labyrinth Wednesday, October 16, 2013 7:30 PM Das Labyrinth Sunday, October 20, 2013 7:30 PM

Das Labyrinth Tuesday, October 22, 2013 7:30 PM Das Labyrinth Saturday, October 26, 2013 7:30 PM

The Magic Flute

by Mozart and Schikaneder (in a crisp, new English adaptation)

Conductor: Richard Owen / Director: Nathan Hull

The Magic Flute Friday, October 11, 2013 7:30 PM The Magic Flute Saturday, October 12, 2013 7:30 PM The Magic Flute Sunday, October 13, 2013 2:30 PM The Magic Flute Friday, October 18, 2013 7:30 PM The Magic Flute Saturday, October 19, 2013 7:30 PM The Magic Flute Sunday, October 20, 2013 2:30 PM The Magic Flute Thursday, October 24, 2013 7:30 PM The Magic Flute Friday October 25, 2013 7:30 PM The Magic Flute Sunday, October 27, 2013 2:30 PM

For Kids and Families The Magic Flute Brief by Mozart and Schikaneder

(A 90-minute version sung in a new English translation with narration)

Magic Flute Brief Saturday, October 19, 2013 2:30 PM Magic Flute Brief Saturday, October 26, 2013 2:30 PM

 Performances are at the Connelly Theater (220 East 4th Street). Tickets are $40 for general admission and $30 for Students and Seniors. Tickets are accessible by visiting the Amore Opera Website at www.amoreopera.org or by calling 1-888-811-4111.

Page  3  -­‐  Amore  Opera  Press  Release  10/2013     High Resolution Images Available Upon Request Sarah Moulton Faux as Papagena

Duncan Hartman as Sarastro

Elizabeth Treat as the Queen of the Night