a new musical fantasy
words by David Scott Marley
inspired by the characters of Emanuel Schikaneder and the arts of manga and anime
music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart from his opera Die Zauberflöte
A young stockbroker from Tokyo goes sailing, and an unexpected storm strands him on a strange, magical island. With the help of a bird charmer named Papageno, three prank-playing raccoons, and a silver flute, he sets out on a quest to rescue a princess. But many things on this island are not as they seem, and to complete his journey the young man must discover the truth about the island’s history, the flute’s seductive magic — and what is really in his heart.
Reviews for The Manga Flute
- “Superb … bold, outlandish, delectable entertainment … [Marley’s] libretto is a thing of wonder” — San Francisco Classical Voice
- “Charming … delightful … chief among the pleasures is the sleek virtuosity of Marley’s libretto” — San Francisco Chronicle
- “A poetic and fanciful libretto … surprising in the scope of its originality” — Repeat Performances
David Scott Marley 