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Gettysburg College’s The Magic Flute: Delightfully Surprising

“It’s mind-blowing! They’re missing out if they don’t come to hear these students.”

“The whole ensemble is so talented! I didn’t know!”

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“His voice is so beautiful! It’s such a gift!”

These are the words of Tamra, Theresa, and Melanie, three women who work at the Center for Student Success at Gettysburg College. They knew that to hear Thomas Lynch IV sing was the reason they came to yesterday’s Opera Workshop of the Sunderman Conservatory’s production of The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Thomas, as Tamino, stood alone on the stage at the start and captivated the audience instantly with his clear, full, tenor voice. Thomas is a Junior Music Performance major with a drive to share with the local community his love of the art form that is not always the most popular choice of entertainment.  After the show, he expressed his joy to be back on the stage again, having had to endure Zoom opera performances during the covid era. His mom and grandfather couldn’t have beamed more brightly or been more proud of his and the cast’s performances.

“The ensemble was wonderful,” Thomas’ grandfather said with a grin, adding “There were so many really fine moments through the whole show.”

Each of the fourteen cast members stood out individually, yet the ensemble worked together to achieve a precise balance. Not an obvious diva among them.  Even the most familiar soprano aria attained a level of perfection that brought enthusiastic, sustained applause when sung by sophomore pre-med student, Marissa Duggan as the Queen of the Night.

Two different trios, the colorful Ladies, and the ethereal Spirits, appeared at different times to harmoniously advance the story, sung in the original German. Spoken lines are in English, but make sure to read the synopsis in the program to fully enjoy the nuances of the story.

That opera singers are actors as well proves challenging for some, but not these fine students. There are some charming moments and a few delightful surprises. One particularly fine, though brief performance was by dancer-like music education major Evan Hillborn as Monastatos. Ani Griffin, a  performance major, sings Pamina passionately with a powerful soprano voice. Hayden Johnston, a political science major, familiar from other theatrical productions on campus, made his impressive opera debut as Papageno. Anali Matthew, who played Sarastro, said she enjoyed her role but, “didn’t expect to be dressed as a biker chick!”

The genius of this production is its simplicity. From the solo piano accompaniment by Dr. Scott Crowne, to the brilliant use of the projection screen, designed by SeifAllah Salotto-Cristobal, the musicians were supported in a warm and creative atmosphere that showcased their talents. There were even some cool special effects. The audience responded with audible delight and generous applause culminating in a standing ovation at the curtain call.

Dr Kyle J. Weary, director and visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education expressed great appreciation for the opportunity to work with Gettysburg College and these talented students. Dr. Weary’s credits are numerous and varied, having directed 25 productions, appeared on stage with some very notable people and conducted numerous choruses.  Shawn Felton, a friend of the director’s from Cornell University in New York, gained a new appreciation for the Sunderman Conservatory and the number and quality of music students who graduate each year from this quiet, small town university.

James Day, the director of Sunderman Conservatory, beamed with pride that “the students work so hard with such a collaborative spirit to achieve the highest of standards while taking part in other theatre productions and keeping up with demanding college life.”  The closing performance coincides with the last day of classes and the beginning of finals week.

Mozart himself directed the first-ever performance of The Magic Flute in 1791 in Vienna and the classic remains a favorite for audiences worldwide for reasons that will become obvious and not only because the ticket price is only five dollars and the concession stand is open.

The Majestic Theatre is the place to be to start your weekend with a smile on your face and a reason to come back again for many operas to come, as delightful and surprising as that may be.

Featured image caption: Marissa Duggan, The Queen of the Night and Director Kyle Weary

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Deb Collins has been in central Pennsylvania since 1989. Her children graduated from Gettysburg Area High School at the turn of the century and now live at opposite ends of the turnpike, Chelsea in Pittsburgh and Jake in Philadelphia. Raised in Connecticut, Deb enjoys the milder climate and the proximity to so many major cities that Gettysburg provides.

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