And Yet Another Mind Reader Weighs In

(Note: This post has been edited for clarity as of 10:52 AM Eastern on 5 Jul.)

On the 90-minute Zauberflöte, that is. This time it's The New York Times's resident classical music genius, Anthony Tommasini, who puts forward essentially the same curious argument as La Cieca before him as justification for the Met's newly proposed cut-rate version of this transcendent masterpiece; viz., reading Mozart's mind, he's certain Mozart would have no objections. (For our comments on Mr. Tommasini's take on the present Julie Taymor production of Zauberflöte, see here. For our take on the Met's new proposal, see here.)

Well, perhaps Mozart wouldn't have any objections, and neither would I, provided someone manages to resurrect him, and secures his agreement to make the requisite cuts, and write any necessary bridging patchwork himself (or in conference with a duly resurrected and equally agreeable Schikaneder). The idea that Mozart would have no objections to others putting a hand to his work is, of course, patently absurd.

So, short of the aforementioned resurrection(s), there's no adequate justification for the proposed mauling of this sublime masterpiece by the Met. None whatsoever.