This seems to be the Year of the Flute, as in The Magic Flute. First, the University of Utah Lyric Opera Ensemble and the Paradigm Chamber Orchestra performed it. And Utah Opera just finished its run of Mozart’s magical work. Now it’s Weber State University’s turn.

The Magic Flute an opera that Karen Brookens has wanted to do for quite some time. And now she’s finally been able to realize her dream, because she has the singers who can do the most demanding parts. “I have a fabulous dramatic coloratura soprano for the Queen of the Night,” she told Reichel Recommends. “I also have the singers for Tamino, which is a hefty role, and for Sarastro. These are the most difficult roles to fill.”

Brookens is the head of vocal performance and the director of the opera program at Weber State University. She will direct the production, which starts this Thursday for a four-performance run. “I love Mozart, and The Magic Flute is dear to my heart,” she said. Her love for the opera goes back quite a few years. A soprano, she has had the opportunity of performing a couple of the roles in different productions. “I’ve sung Papagena and the First Lady.”

What she enjoys about The Magic Flute is the “fantastical and whimsical” world the story and music conjure up. “It’s a journey of imagination,” she said.

From left: Arianne Hellewell (Papagena); Trenton Fordham (Papageno); Kirk Stapley (Sarastro); Sydnee Ralph (Pamina); Caleb Jardine (Tamino). Photo: Courtesy Weber State University.

And that’s how Brookens, who is directing this production, has approached it. The different layers of the story – everything from Tamino’s lofty search for truth and enlightenment to Papageno’s humor filled yearning for a wife – allow the director to look at it from various angles. “It’s given me a lot of leeway,” Brookens said, “because you move out of one realm and into another. It’s so theatrical.”

This constant shifting can be problematic, however. “The biggest challenge is to make it cohesive.” It’s been hard, but it’s also been fun working with the set and lighting designers to come up with a concept that works, Brookens said.

The student cast has been loving it, she added. “I’ve been so proud of them. They’ve really taken to it.” The production is single cast except for Pamina. “I have some wonderful sopranos. I wanted to give them the opportunity to perform.”

However, not having the Queen and Sarastro double cast puts them in a precarious situation. “I told them they can’t get sick. If they do, I’ll kill them,” Brookens joked.

The opera will be sung in German with projected supertitles, and the dialogue will be in English. Broookens likes this, because, as she said, “you can separate the two very well.” Besides, too much would be lost with German dialogue. “You’d lose all the humor, otherwise,” Brookens said.
The Weber State Symphony Orchestra will play under the baton of Michael Palumbo.

“I’m ready to go with this,” Brookens said. “I hope people will come and fall in love with the music. It’s so phenomenal. It’s some of the most beautiful music Mozart wrote.”

• PERFORMANCE DETAILS
• What: Mozart’s The Magic Flute
• Venue: Austad Auditorium, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, Weber State University
• Time and Date: 7:30 p.m. March 28-30, also 2 p.m. March 30
• Tickets: $9-$12
• Phone: 800-978-8457
• Web: www.weberstatetickets.com