This is one of the most wondrous and simple stagings of Mozart’s elevated Singspiel that I have yet seen. As its musical attributes are almost as excellent‚ it is an experience no­one with DVD should miss. At the time it was presented at the Ludwigsburger Festspiel nine years ago‚ it received a heap of praise‚ not least from veteran critic Horst Koegler. Writing in the pages of Opera‚ he was jubilant at director­designer Axel Manthey’s inspired work‚ saying that he couldn’t recall ‘any other Zauberflöte with the colours so exactly attuned to Mozart’s music’. Those colours are primary and bright‚ set off by a predominantly white background. Within this simple yet refined setting‚ the action is choreographed in a manner precisely fitting the mood of the moment‚ serious or comic. Nothing in that movement is extraneous to‚ or gets in the way of Mozart’s and Schikaneder’s message. Light triumphs over dark in the most natural way. Details‚ such as the dragon‚ animals responding to Tamino’s flute‚ the arrival of the three Boys‚ the evocation of fire and water and several others‚ often invitations to director’s bêtises‚ all march here with the thought­through and pleasing­to­look­at concept. How happy that it should be preserved on video‚ though a pity it’s in 4:3 rather than in widescreen format. Wolfgang Gönnenwein conducts a reading that fits perfectly with what is happening on stage in terms of unaffected‚ rhythmically firm and keenly articulated playing from his fine orchestra. On the small stage‚ a small male chorus sings truly and naturally (the women are heard but not seen). Deon van der Walt’s Tamino is a well­known quantity but – perhaps inspired by his surroundings – he surpasses himself in strong tone and finely moulded phrasing. He has a fit partner in Ulrike Sonntag’s pure­voiced‚ moving Pamina‚ most touching in her aria and scene of near­suicide. Thomas Mohr‚ though unflatteringly attired‚ is a nicely unfussy and gently amusing Papageno. Good and evil‚ at bottom and top of the range‚ are not so happily done. Hauptmann’s visually impressive Sarastro lacks vocal presence and tends to unsteadiness. Similarly Frei’s formidable figure as Queen of Night produces an edgy‚ uncontrolled sound. Ladies and Boys are all admirable. The video direction is sensitive‚ but ArtHaus is to be castigated for its cavalier treatment of their singers. Several of the cast are not listed in the booklet; none is given a biography. On this occasion‚ the sound‚ for the most part clear and well balanced‚ suffers from occasional moments of distortion. None of that should detract from your enjoyment this life­enhancing experience. How sad to relate that Manthey died when only 50‚ soon after directing this production.