Salzburg Marionnette Show
 

I am going to be in Salzburg in late May and I'm interested in the Marionnette show "The Magic Flute". I read on their website that the performance is in German, and I do not speak or understand the language. Will I still enjoy the performance?

Assume you are speaking of the Salzburg Marionette Theatre. We have seen several of their shows and we are not fluent in German. The shows are, IMO, delightful and they more or less transcend any language barriers. Fun and not for those who take life/travel so seriously that they can't have a little whimsical fun.

we went to a performance of a Mozart opera: The Magic Flute. The theater staff played a recording over a good quality speaker system while the marionette operators performed the opera.

It was like a magic show. We sat up close and had a really good view of the stage.

Afterwards, we were able to catch a glimpse of the people behind the scenes manipulating the figures. Those people must have the most skilled hands in the world. All I can say is that it was incredible to think that someone has that degree of dexterity.

We were unlucky when we tried to do the same thing you are.....the Marionettes were on tour in the US! Devastating at the time, but we later caught them in Nashville, TN, performing....The Magic Flute. Entrancing.

As for the language issues, I'd recommend going on-line to find an English summary or even an English libretto of the opera and take it on your trip with you to read before you go see the Marionettes. Not necessary to enjoy it, but a help if you want to know the story. The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflote) is being performed at the Met Opera this season, so you probably can find an English summary there easily on-line. metopera.org

We saw them perform the Nutcracker in 2000. It was magical with a fabulous sound system and not to be missed. There was a historic display of old marionettes in the lobby I recall. We were amazed at how large the marionettes too. By all means go.

I hope a local library has a copy of the Complete Stories of the Great Operas by Milton Cross. It was reprinted many times, and was a classic.

I was given my first one years ago, but the operas have not changed!! New ones have come on the scene, but any opera performed in Salzburg will most probably be in Cross' book.

I presume the company is allowed to perform an opera by a composer other than Mozart!! Even if not, Mr. Mozart wrote enough to keep the locals happy:
Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovonni, Cosi Fan Tutti, Die Zauberflöte, Indomeneo, Die Ausführung aus dem Serail, and a few others. I think there are 19 of them in all.

When you add up all his operas, masses, concerti, symphonies, serenades, etc. one wonders what he would have done had he had at his disposal decent clarinet players and a horn with valves. He used trumpets some, but the trombone got its introduction with Beethoven.

We saw it last trip...loved it! They weren't playing the Magic Flute (I don't remember the show), but it was great. It helped that we bought a program, so had a synopsis of the plot. We were able to follow without much trouble.

Anne

Interestingly, the Salzburg Marionettes were the inspiration for a similar troupe here in the US; you can go to its website (marionettes.org) and see what it once was. The theatre burned to the ground, but the site is still there. The productions were awesome.

I am so glad to hear that the Salzburg Marionettes are a good experience. I saw marionette oepra theatre recently in Prague--Don Giovanni. We thought it dreadful.

Thank you all for your responses. I've booked the marionnette show and found out that there are English sub-titles. Looking forward to it.

Hi Turtle,
Did u book the marionnette show online? I m thinking of going for that also when I m in Salzburg in June. Need to find out the prices and the dates of showing. And great to know that they have English substitles!
It will be great if you give some feedback after watching the show!

To order tickets on line, go to:
http://www.marionetten.at/spielplan2005.html

We wanted to get tickets for our trip through that area in October. When I checked the Spielplan for October shows, it gave me "Puerto Rico." Hmm, I thought, maybe they're doing some new shows in addition to the old classics. Took me a minute to realize that meant they're going to to be on tour. Oh well, another time.

Even without subtitles I think you'll be delighted with the performance; it is hard not to be entranced by the figures and their movements. Don't attend with any other expectations...LaScala it isn't and never tries to be, either.