The plot of Mozart's The Magic Flute is tough to follow. The opera is difficult to perform. But experts agree - the music is ethereal. The community will have the rare opportunity to see The Magic Flute at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, in Midwestern State University's Akin Auditorium.

The opera will be performed by MSU Texas vocal performance students. Professor of Music Don Maxwell said that each year, courses alternate between a musical theater class and an opera class, which is required for vocal performance majors.

"This is beautiful singing and music by one of the masters of music and opera," Maxwell said. "Even if you don't know anything about music, you'll enjoy this. This is real opera for free."

The leads of the two-act opera are Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night, and the prince Tamino. The birdcatcher Papageno accompanies the prince to rescue Pamina from the wizard Sarastro, with the help of a magic flute. But all is not as it seems as to who is good and who is not. A synopsis will be provided for the audience.

Maxwell said that several of the major arias would be performed in the original language - German. "That makes it more difficult, but when these students go out into the real world, they need to know the original." Maxwell also said opera experience is important for music students because there were more jobs in opera than in musical theater.

The production has a cast of 17. Piano accompanist will be James Benecasa. William Brasfield is the director, under the supervision of Maxwell and Dr. Dale Heidebrecht, Assistant Professor of Music. Admission is free.

Contact Maxwell at 940-397-4242 or don.maxwell@msutexas.edu for more information.