The Abilene Tri-Collegiate Opera, mounts a lavish production of one of the most challenging and beloved works in the operatic repertoire, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.� The Singspiel, or operatic form that includes both singing and spoken dialog, features Guest Conductor Denis Segond – a rising young conductor from Nice, France, and music director of the Abilene Opera Association. The production features a full orchestra, with a cast of the finest singing and acting talent from all three Abilene universities.

Performances will be staged at Abilene’s historic Paramount Theater Friday, 18 Apr, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 20 Apr, at 2:00 p.m. General admission is $20 for adults, $12 for seniors, students, and military members.

Perhaps best known for the demanding “Queen of the Night� arias, ACU’s Christina Brown and McMurry’s Lindsay Gallegos share the role. The Queen's "Der Holle Rache kockt in meinem Herzen" reaches a high F6, rare in opera. Forces of good and evil are represented by Sarastro and his priests, as the sagacious temple dwellers, with the Queen and the Night and her minions, the Three Ladies, as the arch villains. Caught in between this battle of good and evil are Tamino, a Prince, betrothed to Pamina, the beautiful and innocent daughter of the Queen of the Night. Birdlike creatures Papageno and Papageno, and Monostatos, a bumbling, would-be villain add comic relief.

The ethereal scenic design by Tony Berry and Costumes by Richard Transki offers a Cirque du Soleil fantastical setting, within which all of the opera’s characters thrive. Dr. Diana Ellis, professor of Music at McMurry University, and Dr. William Mouat, assistant professor of Music and director of opera at Hardin-Simmons University are project coordinators and co-directors, and Mr. Samuel Cook, associate professor of Voice and Opera Director at Abilene Christian University, is the stage director.

Tickets may be ordered in advance for pick-up at the “will call� desk by calling 670-1427, or at the door.