Royal Opera

The Magic Flute

In Cinemas 6, 7 & 10 Jun 2026
Conductor
Marie Jacquot
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Cast
Lucy Crowe (Pamina), Amitai Pati (Tamino), Huw Montagne Rendall (Papageno), Kathryn Lewek (Queen of the Night), Soloman Howard (Sarastro)
Composer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Director
David McVicar
Set Design
John McFarlane
Duration
Approx. 3h5 incl. an interval
Sung in German, with English subtitles
Captured live from Covent Garden, London, Oct 2025
Official Event Listing
  • A joy. This magical production conjures up heartfelt romance, humour and joyful escapism. Kathryn Lewek is outstanding.
    Michael Higgs, LONDON THEATRE
    Assured, atmospheric and a lot of fun. McVicar’s production is full of kitsch turns and exquisite performances, not least from young French conductor Marie Jacquot.
    Flora Willson, THE GUARDIAN
    Striking. RBO's revival is spot on, unusually strong on every level. A first-rate conductor, Marie Jacquot, makes her company debut and ensures an easy dynamism to the score, while a top-notch cast is finely suited to the individual roles
    George Hall, THE STAGE
    Gloriously enjoyable and engrossing. Jacquot's reading of the score fizzed with woodwind flourishes, glowing warmth from the brass and the cantabile refinement of the strings.
    Christopher Woodley, BACHTRACK
    Extra-magical. McVicar's production was first seen at Covent Garden 20 years ago, and its latest appearance may be the best, most enjoyable yet.
    William Hartston, EXPRESS

Opera in two acts (1791)

Mozart’s fantastical coming-of-age story about true love and the search for wisdom is a repertoire staple of The Royal Opera, and David McVicar’s enchanting production is enlivened in this revival by a host of first-class singers, led by French conductor Marie Jacquot in her Covent Garden debut.

Princess Pamina (Lucy Crowe) has been captured. Her mother (Kathryn Lewek), the Queen of the Night, tasks the young Prince Tamino (Samoan-Kiwi tenor Amitai Pati) with her daughter’s rescue. But when Tamino and his friendly sidekick, Papageno (Huw Montague Rendall), embark on their adventure, they soon learn that when it comes to the quest for love, nothing is as it really seems. Guided by a magic flute, they encounter monsters, villains, and a mysterious brotherhood of men – but help, it turns out, comes when you least expect it…

Packed with colourful characters, magical creatures and enchanting music – including the Queen of the Night’s breath-taking aria – The Magic Flute is sure to capture your imagination.

Please note programme change: Lucy Crowe replaces the previously billed Julia Bullock who was forced to withdraw from this production due to illness. [updated 13/10/25]

Royal Opera

The Royal Opera is one of the world’s leading opera companies. Based in London’s iconic Royal Opera House (1858) in Covent Garden, it is renowned both for its outstanding performances of traditional opera and for commissioning new works by today’s leading opera composers, such as Harrison Birtwistle, Mark-Anthony Turnage and Thomas Adès.

See more productions from: Royal Ballet and Opera