The Magic Flute returns in triumph to the Royal Opera House

Lucy Crowe (Pamina), Amitai Pati (Tamino) and the Royal Opera Chorus

Kathryn Lewek (Queen of the Night) and Lucy Crowe (Pamina)

Huw Montague Rendall (Papageno) and Amitai Pati (Tamino)

Soloman Howard (Sarastro) in the Act 1 finale

By Christopher Woodley, 11 October 2025

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“can switch from slapstick to stand-up with a click of the fingers”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 10 October 2025

Mozart, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)

The Royal Opera

Marie Jacquot, Conductor

Sir David McVicar, Director

John Macfarlane, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Paule Constable, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Royal Opera Chorus

Ruth Knight, Revival Director

Amitai Pati, Tamino

Lucy Crowe, Pamina

Kathryn Lewek, Queen of the Night

Huw Montague Rendall, Papageno

Soloman Howard, Sarastro

Hannah Edmunds, First Lady

Ellen Pearson, Second Lady

Emma Carrington, Third Lady

Matthew Rose, The Speaker (Der Sprecher)

Marianna Hovanisyan, Papagena

Gerhard Siegel, Monostatos

Harry Nicoll, First Priest

Wyn Pencarreg, Second Priest

Stuart Jackson, First Armoured Man

Graeme Broadbent, Second Armoured Man

Leah Hausman, Choreography

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Christopher Woodley

Christopher’s professional background is in the public sector, and includes a spell in music librarianship. A composer, he is a keen follower of contemporary music and has attended all but four editions of the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, including the first concert in 1978. Other musical passions include a fascination with the “bad boys” of the New Complexity fixation, particularly the god-like Brian Ferneyhough – arguably the best thing to have come out of Coventry. When not listening to Boulez, Christopher relaxes by frequenting the fields, orchards, woodlands and pubs on the Weald of Kent, where he lives.

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun: The Magic Flute returns in triumph to the Royal Opera House