The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ~ Emanuelle Luzzati
Scroll Press, 1973

I was hesitant to post on this book at first as Michael Sporn Animation (purveyors of amazing children's book animation) has done a fabulous job over the last few years chronicling Luzzati's films and books on their blog (like this one and Punch and the Magic Fish). There's not really much I could say here that hasn't already been said about the opera designer and animator, but after I found Hurly Burly and the Knights last year, I became somewhat fascinated by the man's work. I remain nothing more than a distant observer and lover of his creations, but I will say this... Anyone who takes the work of opera and music and animates it and ultimately makes it accessible to children to OK by me. Here, we have a reworking of the animated version he created with Giulio Gianini, and I don't think I have to tell you how awesome the illustrations are. See for yourself...

Oh yeah, the language is pretty swank, too.

At last the young lovers had won happiness, and Sarasto and his priests welcomed them to true wisdom in his temple where they were enthroned in glory. The queen of the night could do nothing to stop their happiness, and she and all her wicked servents where sent howling away into outer darkness.

Mozart would've been proud. Trust me. Only people who go to library sales can score wonders like these for a mere 50 cents. So please, get out and seek these treasures for yourself. (Just not in the greater San Antonio area ;p.) Love them and read them and share them and pass them on to the people you care about. And see Michael Sporn's "sblog" for scans of the full book and some great takes on the man, Gianini and their work together.

Also by:
Hurly Burly and the Knights

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