Through sonic, visual, and textual means, Kenneth Branagh’s The Magic Flute explores two contrasting themes: strength and weakness. Throughout the entire opera film, we witness both the afore mentioned themes from a variety of characters, and the fate to which these attributes lead each individual. Mozart’s beautifully written music backs up this intriguing storyline, with well-placed arias, leitmotifs and an excellent score. As the story follows the adventure of Tamino and Papegano, many times we witness acts of both the contrasting themes. Once Tamino has been saved from the gas by the Three Ladies, he is given the picture of Pamina along with the request to save her. Tamino falls instantly in love with this photo, which can be viewed
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His singing is usually conjunct and very consistent, resembling the solidity of a rock - he seems stable, calm and well-balanced. Through the whole film he shows nothing but kindness and compassion to everyone, even the Queen of the Night. Although he is initially introduced by the Three Ladies as powerful, evil and mad, only the first is true. One of the ways a person can show strength is through their choices and decisions. Sorastro shows his wisdom as a leader and his ability to make good decisions, his tenants are willing to follow him because they understand he’s doing what’s right and what’s necessary for peace. Around 1:03:00 is when he explains that it is time for them at the field hospital to make their move towards ending the war and as he sings, the chorus joins him not only in voice but in support too. It is a very smooth ballad, the notes are legato and flow from one right into the next. It is a slower paced song, perhaps adagio or largo because they are remembering why it is important they stand up for themselves; in memory of those they have lost but also for their future. The dynamics are consistently around mezzo-piano to mezzo-forte,and the mood is solemn but it feels meaningful. A common characteristic of the classical era was having more than one emotion expressed at a time per section as demonstrated in this song. It’s in a major key, but it makes one feel sad as though they are remembering something that was once happy which is exactly what the crowd is feeling; they’re mourning their dead but hopefully looking forward for what to come. This proves that the crowd is also strong; they have the durability to keep moving
His singing is usually conjunct and very consistent, resembling the solidity of a rock - he seems stable, calm and well-balanced. Through the whole film he shows nothing but kindness and compassion to everyone, even the Queen of the Night. Although he is initially introduced by the Three Ladies as powerful, evil and mad, only the first is true. One of the ways a person can show strength is through their choices and decisions. Sorastro shows his wisdom as a leader and his ability to make good decisions, his tenants are willing to follow him because they understand he’s doing what’s right and what’s necessary for peace. Around 1:03:00 is when he explains that it is time for them at the field hospital to make their move towards ending the war and as he sings, the chorus joins him not only in voice but in support too. It is a very smooth ballad, the notes are legato and flow from one right into the next. It is a slower paced song, perhaps adagio or largo because they are remembering why it is important they stand up for themselves; in memory of those they have lost but also for their future. The dynamics are consistently around mezzo-piano to mezzo-forte,and the mood is solemn but it feels meaningful. A common characteristic of the classical era was having more than one emotion expressed at a time per section as demonstrated in this song. It’s in a major key, but it makes one feel sad as though they are remembering something that was once happy which is exactly what the crowd is feeling; they’re mourning their dead but hopefully looking forward for what to come. This proves that the crowd is also strong; they have the durability to keep moving