Opera Pacific: ‘The Magic Flute’

THE MAGIC OF MOZART

“To use modern terms, this is a ‘musical,’ ” asserts Dr. Michael Hampe, director of Opera Pacific’s “The Magic Flute,” opening Wednesday. “We’ve done some cutting, but left enough dialogue in as is necessary.” Co-set designer, Dr. Hampe balances sets and special effects with music and story, lest the spectacle overwhelm. “This opera lives on the starkest contrasts,” he says, “so we make it run without one second of interruption – the way Mozart and (librettist) Schickaneder did it. Yet this opera has a clear theme: the utopian idea that power and justice be united in leaders. As you can see, this is still a utopian idea.” 7:30 p.m. Wed. and Jan. 31 and Feb. 2, 2 p.m. Jan. 27, Orange County Performing Artscenter (Segerstrom Hall). $27-$191. (800) 34-OPERA; www.operapacific.org