Lan S.
Yelp
We saw the Asheville Lyric Opera production of Die Zauberflöte at Diana Wortham Theatre last night.
I loved the way it was staged, which was just right for this intimate 500-seat theater. This is one of the "singspiel" style of sing-and-talk operas that were in vogue in the late 18th century. This production used Schikaneder's German libretto and of course Mozart's amazing tunes for the songs but Broadway-style English for the spoken parts (libretto adapted by John Truitt).
The ALO has the Schikaneder libretto translated on a screen at Diana Wortham. Most opera productions do that now, even though with The Magic Flute most of the lyrics are so simple you can almost follow them without knowing much German. The story is full of Masonic references I don't really get, but that doesn't matter, because the music is so wonderful and the opera done this way is just plain fun.
The young soprano who sang Pamina, Julia Ebner, also is making her debuts this season at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and Papageno (Adrian Smith) was great, much enjoyed by the sold-out audience. The Queen of the Night (Megan Brunning) was perhaps over the top with her high notes but was an audience favorite.
Back to the venue: I always enjoy the Diana Wortham, although I was stunned to overhear someone noting that this is an"old theater." It seems almost new to me, compared with Thomas Wolfe at U.S. Cellular Center, which is going on three quarters of a century old (though it has been made over a couple of times). When will Asheville finally bite the bullet and get a really first-class large performance theater and combined convention center?! Asheville is losing so much business to Charlotte, Greenville, S.C., and Knoxville.
However, for those with any mobility issues, I recommend against seats in the balcony, where we sat at this performance. You can see well, and nearly every seat in the theater has good sight lines and good sound, but it's very steep up there. (We were Balcony Left, Row E, with aisle seats) Every time I sat down I felt like I needed to fasten my seat belt, and older patrons were stumbling up and down the steps. There's a hand rail only one on side of the aisle where our seats were, so someone could fall before even getting to a place to grab the handrail for balance.
On the plus side for the balcony level, there's same-level entrance to the theater balcony through the Asheville Art Museum entrance (the doors are left open during theater performances, even if the museum is closed) and also through the Biltmore Avenue parking lot adjoining Pack Place. If you can get front row or box seats at balcony level, they are good. It's just the seats up the "steep hill" that are a problem. Otherwise I would suggest the better Orchestra seats if you can afford them.
From the balcony level, to get wine or whatever before the production or at intermission you have to go down to the lobby level of the theater via stairs or elevator.
