Performing at a venue as grand as the Metropolitan Opera House is no small feat, and last night’s performance of The Magic Flute did not disappoint. From the unbelievably impressive vocals to the grand revolving stage, everything about the opera was captivating and engaging. In terms of staging, everything fell in place with the entire performance- each aspect was crucial to the full picture. The revolving stage features various scenic backdrops, such as the woods in which Tamino and Papageno must travel through to rescue Pamina. Along with the jaw-dropping stage, another interesting point to note is the blocking of the actors. The performers, from the main and supporting characters in the opera to the dancers, everyone used the space smartly, so that the audience never felt an awkward emptiness anytime during the play. Of course, with a sage as big as the Met’s, it is silly not to incorporate the space into the story. Dancing bears, fleeing captives, and even the star-shimmering Queen of the Night- all of these characters were well aware of their space and did not idle in any one position for more than a few minutes at most. Even when the sage was revolving to match the next scene, the performers would flawlessly wrap up their act and not have the stage change interfere with their performance.