Classic opera: Mozart's The Magic Flute will be conducted by Magnus Loddgard of Norway this weekend at HCM City's Opera House. — Photo courtesy of HBSO

HCM CITY (VNS) — Mozart's classic opera The Magic Flute will be performed for the first time in HCM City this weekend by the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) under the baton of Norwegian conductor Magnus Loddgard.

Under the support of Norway's Transposition project, the opera will be a full-stage production complete with scenography and costumes.

Set in ancient Egypt, the opera centres on the love story of Tamio and Pamina, and the challenges to gain true love. Its themes revolve around the opposites of good and evil, day and night, and male and female.

The opera portrays an enlightened, humanistic ideal of man, and exposes the machinery of power surrounding queens and priests as nothing but empty bombast.

Internationally famed operatic voices will be featured, including Norwegian tenor Magnus Staveland, Norwegian baritone Halvor F. Melien, Asia's leading operatic bass and vocal coach Derek Anthony, South Korean soprano Cho Hae-ryong, and HBSO artists.

The performance, under the direction of French-German director David Hermann, will take place at HCM City's Opera House on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets, priced at VND650,000, VND550,000, VND400,000 and VND150,000 for students, are available at the venue. — VNS