Die Zauberflöte, Glyndebourne

Glyndebourne Festival Opera was built on Mozart – even if its founder, John Christie, wanted it to be a Wagner house. So every new Mozart production is an event.

Expect a race for tickets this year for Die Zauberflöte – The Magic Flute – as directed by innovative Canadian directing and design duo Barbe & Doucet. Perhaps no other opera lends itself to so many visual interpretations, so surprise will be the order of the day. The involvement of puppet designer Patrick Martel lends a clue.

One thing is already certain – there is going to be some marvellous music-making. Italian conductor and Royal Opera House regular Antonello Manacorda conducts the scintillating Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. This reading will be very fleet of foot.

Caroline Wettergreen sings the inperious Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte

The questing Tamino is sung by American tenor David Portillo, with Sofia Fomina as Pamina: it's love at first sight (of her portrait). Tamino's unwilling companion in pursuit of Pamina, the birdcatcher Papageno, is sung by Björn Bürger.

The two dramatic arias by the Queen of the Night will be spectacularly sung by Norwegian soprano Caroline Wettergreen. Jörg Schneider is the creep Monostatos, and Michael Kraus the dignified Speaker.

Mozart intended his opera to be enjoyed not by wealthy patrons but ordinary townsfolk in Vienna, where the opera was first staged in 1791. It was first produced at Glyndebourne in the house's second year, in 1935, and has been a firm favourite ever since.

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'Die Zauberflöte' is sung in German with English surtitles. General booking opens 6PM, Sunday 3 March. The performance on 4 August will be relayed to cinemas across London and nationwide: click here for details