Die Zauberflöte

… Thomas Ebenstein as Monostatos is exactly what I imagine as a modern day villain: an egotistical capitalist hell-bent on getting what he wants how he wants it, no matter the amount of destruction it takes to get there. Ebenstein’s vocal performance illuminated his character portrayal and I was enthralled by him the entire night, especially during his aria “Alles fühlt der Liebe Freuden.” His level of desperation aligned with Lewek’s Queen of the Night, but there was a sadness in his voice that made his role more interesting than usual, and very human. Despite how much this opera makes him out to be one the most hated of all the roles, Ebenstein made me want to experience him more. He arrived at the precipice of his own evolution and this made him stand out in the best way possible. …