Damsels in Distress

J. Alfred Prufrock measured out his life in coffee spoons; I can count out mine in musical performances. The Royal Opera House’s latest revival of Die Zauberflöte was the first time I’d seen David McVicar’s production since it was premiered in 2002 and it evoked happy memories of that great occasion - one distinguished by a fine staging, fluent conducting and above all wonderful singing. Chief amongst the highlights were the neurotic, bittersweet (and much imitated) Papageno of Simon Keenlyside, the gloriously womanly and full-toned Pamina of Dorothea Röschmann and above all the electrifying performance of the Queen of the Night by Diana Damrau. By her own account her favourite staging of the role, her interpretation in London set new standards for the singing of this fiendish part and the DVD of her singing ‘Die Hölle Rache’ has been…