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Opera

Life-enhancing achievement: ENO's Magic Flute reviewed

Plus: Tim Albery's Cosi for Opera North locks onto the opera's misogyny with sadistic intensity

13 February 2016

9:00 AM

13 February 2016

9:00 AM

The Magic Flute

ENO, in rep until 19 March

Così fan tutte

Opera North, touring in rep until 18 March

Centre stage, there’s an industrial-looking black platform, secured by cables. The Three Ladies snap the unconscious Tamino on a mobile phone. The Three Boys look like Gollum in a fright wig. And Papageno, dressed as an ageing vagrant, simulates urination (at least I hope that’s what it was) into an empty wine bottle.

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Richard Bratby is deputy music critic of the Birmingham Post and a former concerts manager with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

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