The School of Music, Theatre & Dance will host two free Opera Studio performances of a shortened version of Mozart’s opera “Die Zauberflöte” (“The Magic Flute”) in Stamps Auditorium of the Walgreen Drama Center. The opera will be performed in German with English supertitles and is directed by Associate Professor of Music Robert Swedberg.

Composed in 1791, “Die Zauberflöte” is a singspiel, a German form of opera that includes both song and spoken word. This particular opera is highly influenced by the philosophy of the Enlightenment and has remained extremely popular since its debut in Vienna shortly after its composition.

The School of Music, Theatre & Dance teamed up with the School of Engineering and Environmental Science Departments to present the performance as a "green opera." This collaboration has ensured a more environmentally conscious production.

The opera follows a young prince on his quest to save his future bride from captivity with the help of a magical flute. Although they are fantastic, the obstacles he encounters in his endeavors can be appreciated by any college student who has had to face the various hurdles that come with higher education.