Abstract

Music

The fact is that opera is not drama but drama realized through music, that for the sake of the music one accepts in the opera house dramatic nonsense that one wouldn't waste time on in the theatre and that the less one is aware of the nonsense as one listens, the better for ones experience of the music. NBC-TV Opera Theatre's recent production of "The Magic Flute" was one of its best achievements. The fact is that opera is not drama but drama realized through music, that for the sake of the music one accepts in the opera house dramatic nonsense that one wouldn't waste time on in the theatre and that the less one is aware of the nonsense as one listens, the better for ones experience of the music. NBC-TV Opera Theatre's recent production of "The Magic Flute" was one of its best achievements. Singers Rosalind Elias, Donald Gramm and Louis Quilico were less impressive.