Saint Florian Boys' Choir
MAGIC FLUTE XXS

     

 

 

THE MAGIC FLUTE
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Version
Magic Flute XXS
By the Austrian Saint Florian Choir Boys
with more than 1000 years of tradition

Musical and Artistic Director Franz Farnberger
Conception
Franz Farnberger and Christian Aichinger
Idea
Christian Aichinger

The choir boys of Saint Florian present a special version of the well known opera “The Magic Fute” by the world famous Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart entitled “The Magic Flute XXS”which was conceived especially for the choir boys by their director Franz Farnberger and Christian Aichinger. In this version not only the “Three Boys” but also all the main parts and the choirs are sung and presented exclusively by the choir boys.

Regarding music all the most popular melodies and arias of the Magic flute are presented
- the Birdcatcher`s Aria
- the Portrait Aria
- the Sarastro Arias
- the Pamina Aria
- Aria of the Queen of the Night ( Vengeance of the Hell)
- The duet Papagena and Papageno
and numerous tunes for ensemble and choir .
However, the presentation not only includes the arias but also the essential elements of the actions of the opera.
The particular attraction of the scenic concept consist in the fact that there is hardly any stage set or prefabricated costumes.
The opera opens with thirty choir boys dressed in their typical sailor uniforms getting on stage singing and carrying only two big aluminium chests full of colourful pieces of cloths and toys.
The respective costumes are being prepared by the boys themselves and adapted to the action in front of the audience. The chests also function as a platform where the main characters may stand or sit on to increase the impact of the action by optical effects.
All the boys stay on stage during the whole performance thus participating in their changing roles ,e.g.functioning as dressers for the soloists, as special characters in the fire and water scene, as stage managers,etc.
A short introduction is being given in the form of a framework story before the performance starts in order to instruct the audience and to arouse their interest.

The framework story goes like that.

The director of a privately owned opera house wants to re-establish his broken finances by staking everything on one chance: winning a fortune by presenting Mozart`s Magic Flute with internationally renowned opera stars. Everything seems to runs smoothly up to the day of the dress rehearsal when a disastrous fire break out in the store room and all the stage set, the décor and all the costumes fall victim to the flames. Consequently the producer, the director , all the stars and the orchestra withdraw cancelling their contracts.
Since the owner of the opera house has no corresponding insurance he is on the brink of a disastrous ruin.
It is only the three choir boys cast for the part of the “Three Boys” that show pity and decide to save the performance and the owner of the theatre.
Since all the boys have been listening and memorizing all the arias quite frequently they know them very well. Thus they decide to make a phone call to invite their comrades of the Saint Florian Convent School explaining the situation and inviting them to take over all the parts of the opera stars. Their colleagues accept enthusiastically and quickly pack all kinds of stuff and toys into their two big silver touring chests and get on their way in the very same night .Once on the bus they immediately start with their rehearsals and eagerly work out the concept for the presentation.
On the arrival of all the courageous choir boys from Saint Florian the theatre owner is totally bewildered by the spontaneity of these good hearted guys and willingly accepts their brilliant plan and thankfully puts his fate into their little hands.

Requirements for the Opera Magic Flute XXS

- In order to fully appreciate the voices of the young choir boys to its best advantage concert halls should fully reflect the voices , just like in churches and concert halls. Rooms that provide upholstered furniture , curtains and carpets lower the volume of the voices and are therefore less appropriate.

- The stage should provide a size of three to three metres as a minimum

- There should be facilities for sitting for about thirty choir boys and

- two hat stands.

- There is no need for special light effects, however, if there are illumination facilities that can be regulated and qualified technicians are available please ask for our elaborated illumination concept.

- a grand piano to accompany all the tunes.
 

Concert Programmes of the Saint Florian Choir Boys

Variation One:
30 to 40 minutes choir presentation according to requests
15 minutes break
60 minutes Magic Flute XXS

Variation Two:
60 to 75 minutes Magic Flute XXS

Choir Programme
subject to alteration

 
 

requirements for the opera
MAGIC FLUTE XXS