Jasmine Habersham to lead opera chat for Metropolitan Opera's 'Magic Flute' broadcast
For opera lovers, what could beat a high-definition telecast of the Metropolitan Opera's "The Magic Flute" for the holiday season? How about Macon's own rising star Jasmine Habersham giving the pre-broadcast opera chat at the Douglass Theatre?
Habersham, who completed her master's in music at the University of Cincinnati College - Conservator of Music, is more than qualified to "chat," having appeared in a Young Artists production of "The Magic Flute" at New York's popular Glimmerglass Festival.
In fact, Habersham will do a bit more than chat, as she is scheduled to demonstrate as well as talk.
The Mozart classic is an ideal selection for the holiday season. Not only is it considered by many to be Mozart's finest opera, but this encore production celebrates the 10th anniversary of the performance that launched the Met's Live in HD series.
With the production running less than two hours, it's a perfect length to appeal to both adults and children. It is thus more than fitting that philanthropist Eleanor Lane has made a group of tickets available to enable a number of young people to attend the performance.
They will see not only a delightful opera but also will be inspired by the presence of a living example in the person of young Habersham.
This encore production is presented in English, with the music directed by the celebrated James Levine. The storyline of this fairy tale involves the rescue of a princess and an epic battle between good and evil in "a mythical land between the sun and the moon."
Critics say that Mozart originally had in mind certain symbols emanating from Freemasonry and Austrian historical figures, but the rave reviews of the Met production say that none of this information is required for a thoroughly captivating afternoon.
One thing is for sure, the anniversary of the of the Met's Live in HD outreach to theaters in more than 70 countries across the world marks a milestone in the history of modern grand opera.
"The Magic Flute"
When: 12:55 p.m. Dec. 12
Where: Douglass Theatre, 355 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Cost: $24 adults, $20 seniors and students
Information: www.metopera.org/hdlive; 478-742-2000
This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 5:58 PM with the headline "Jasmine Habersham to lead opera chat for Metropolitan Opera's 'Magic Flute' broadcast ."