‘The Magic Flute’ Marks CofC’s First Full-Scale Opera

Above: A student uses renderings to sew costumes for the role of Tamino for upcoming performances of the opera Die Zauberflöte. (Photo by Annie Morraye)

When College of Charleston Director of Opera Sandy DeAthos-Meers joined the College four years ago, she came with a plan for full-scale opera performances. With Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), a timeless fairytale of darkness, light and finding one’s way in the world, DeAthos-Meers’ vision will soon become a reality

“I chose Die Zauberflöte because it matched the voice types of students on campus,” says DeAthos-Meers, who double cast the primary roles so more students have the opportunity to perform. “I’m thrilled that we have students from different disciplines across campus participating in the opera.”

Performed at the College’s Sottile Theatre, tickets for Die Zauberflöte are available for shows on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, at 2 p.m. Visit the George Street Box Office website to purchase tickets. The production will include music sung in German, with supertitles, and English dialogue.

Seth Younglove practices playing the flute during a rehearsal for Die Zauberflöte.

A full-scale opera requires a lot of resources, including access to the Sottile Theatre , the full support of the College’s Department of Music and Department of Theatre and Dance and the participation of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (CSO), which will be performing with principal players as part of its season.

“Janine McCabe, artistic director of CofC Stages , supported the vision and included Die Zauberflöte as part of the Department of Theatre and Dance 2021-22 season,” says DeAthos-Meers. “Veteran actor and theatre faculty member, Evan Parry, directs this resplendent production, while the Charleston Symphony skillfully realizes Mozart’s remarkable score under the leadership of CSO Pops conductor and CSO concertmaster Yuriy Bekker.”

Seth Younglove, theatre and music double major, is excited to be cast in the College’s first full-scale production and to have the opportunity to sing over a 42-piece orchestra with only acoustics to project.

“Performing Tamino in Die Zauberflöte is the pinnacle of my college career,” says the senior. “Because of COVID, the last larger performance I was in was Urinetown. This is almost a redemption for me as I only had a couple of small performances in between.”

Younglove, a native of Fort Mill, S.C., came to the College when he learned DeAthos-Meers was coming as he wanted to study all aspects of opera, musical theater and theater itself.

“I was excited to study under someone who taught musical theater and opera,” says Younglove, who notes that opera has allowed him to experience fully what the voice can do.

After graduation, Younglove will remain at the College as an artist in residence. He plans to audition for operas, plays and musicals so that he can build out his repertoire and achieve his long-term goal of performing in any way, shape or form. “My plan is to throw paint at the wall and see what can come out of it,” he says.

Lauren Funkhouser performs during a rehearsal. (Photo by Sara Fullford)

Mount Pleasant, S.C., native Lauren Funkhouser also came to the College because of DeAthos-Meers, from whom she took lessons while in high school.

“She’s the best teacher I’ve ever come into contact with,” says Funkhouser, who is taking advantage of the College’s language programs to study the principal opera languages: German, French, Italian and Russian. “I was accepted into several large conservatories of music but in the end, I decided to come to the College because Dr. DeAthos-Meers does the best job with my voice.”

Die Zauberflöte is the first full-length opera in which Funkhouser will perform. For Funkhouser, a first-year student majoring in music, performing the role of the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte is a dream come true. She will also be an understudy for Queen of the Night with the Berlin Opera Academy this summer. Her past experience includes performing opera scenes at camps and workshops.

“When I was 14, I asked my voice teacher if I could sing the second aria in Act 2 of Die Zauberflöte and she said ‘wait ‘til college.’ And here I am,” she says.

With passionate performances and all the support in place for a stellar production, the audience is sure to go on a wild ride toward the true meaning of love and happiness with Die Zauberflöte.