Local soprano is Queen of the Night

She is evil incarnate, “a desperate woman who portrays the dark side of human emotion.”

She is the Queen of the Night, a pivotal character in The Magic Flute, Mozart’s most popular opera.

Soprano Aline Kutan of Pointe Claire will be reprising her international signature role in Opera de Montreal’s upcoming production of the classic work, which was first staged in Vienna in 1791. The celebrated composer died two week after its premiere. “This is my 22nd production of The Magic Flute since 1991 when I was at Universite de Laval, where it won an award for best production in Quebec,” said Kutan, who has performed the role with a succession of distinguished companies, including the Paris Opera and the New York City Opera.

The Vancouver native is an accomplished artist with a career spanning over 20 years. She has won a series of prestigious awards both in Canada and abroad, including Metropolitan Opera and Montreal Symphony Orchestra competitions. “I started my career at the age of 18 when I sang in Turn of the Screw with the Vancouver Opera,” said Kutan, whose last appearance with the Opera de Montreal was in 2007. “It was after I did a Canadian tour of Phantom of the Opera in 1991-’93 that I decided to settle in Montreal.” The Magic Flute is a “fairy tale about good versus evil. There are a lot of Masonic ideas – Mozart was a Mason – and symbolism on different levels. The Queen of the Night is a complex role. She’s the antagonist, manipulative and vain.” The production, which will be mounted at Place des Arts, features a cast of mainly Canadian artists, “most of whom I’ve worked with in the past,” Kutan said. The two-act opera is sung in German, interspersed with dialogue.

Kutan will again step into the role for a production in France next year. Opera de Montreal’s The Magic Flute opens Nov. 7. It continues on the 11th, 14th, 16th, and 19th at 8 p.m., with a matinee at 2 on Nov. 21. For tickets, call the box office at 514-842-2112.