Behind the Curtain: My Experience Performing in ‘The Magic Flute’ at the Royal Opera House.
17 November 2025 - All
LIV pupil, Remi, recently made her debut at the Royal Opera House, performing in Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’. Her performance earned wonderful reviews from leading publications:
- ‘The Three Boys boasted exceptional intonation and angelic tone.’ – The Guardian
- ‘The Three Boys are sung here by children who are clearly very well prepared, since their performance shows not the slightest flaw in coordination or rhythmic precision.’ – Forum Opéra
Huge congratulations to Remi on this incredible achievement, we’re all so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you get up to next.
Remi shared her thoughts on stepping onto one of the world’s most iconic stages:
‘The Magic Flute is one of the most popular operas, and it was the last opera composed by Wolfgang Mozart. It tells the story of Prince Tamino, who undergoes quests to rescue Princess Pamina. Unlike ordinary fairy tales, Tamino is challenged to question his own beliefs and faith, ultimately making his own decision about who is a true leader. He chose Sarastro who is a man of dignity, honesty, and wisdom, and supported by his people.
At the finale, Sarastro, Prince Tamino, Princess Pamina, Papageno and the angels leave the stage, and the final chorus is sung by the peasants. This reflects the world at the time the opera was written; an age of uncertainty during the American War of Independence and the French Revolution. Perhaps this is why The Magic Flute continues to inspire us today: it is a story of love, faith, and hope with a touch of comedy in the time of uncertainly.
I played one of the three angels, who are disguised as boys. The angels guide and advise Prince Tamino. They save the lives of Princess Pamina and Papageno. I had the privilege of working closely with Marie Jacquot (Conductor), Kathryn Lewek (considered one of the greatest Queens of the Night), and Huw Montague Rendall (Gramophone Award winner).
The part I enjoyed most was discovering how many different departments and staff members are involved in creating one production. I had so much fun visiting the costume department, where I saw an incredible collection of costumes and wigs. It was amazing to see how carefully the costume team tailored everything to suit the characters and each performer. I was also fascinated by the set department. Their work ranges from painting scenery to engineering moving walls and trees. I particularly liked our flying machine!
Looking back at all the shows, I realise that no performance is ever completely perfect and that’s okay. There were always small hiccups: sometimes the flying machine misbehaved, a cast member tripped, or Papageno forgot his magic bells! I also noticed that even the most experienced and famous opera singers make mistakes. The difference is, they carry on as if nothing happened and keep the show alive.
That was the biggest lesson I learned: perfection isn’t the goal. We aim to do our best, and the audience rarely notices the little things. What truly matters is staying in the moment, performing with confidence, and giving the audience the best experience we can.’
Remi
LIV
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