AnimAzione. Awaiting The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute holds a special place in Lele Luzzati’s artistic career. Throughout his life, he explored Mozart’s masterpiece in many different forms, from stage and costume design to animation and publishing. Opening at Casa Luzzati on 25 April 2025, AnimAzione continues the journey begun with Gazza 60, the exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Thieving Magpie (La Gazza Ladra), the animated film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1966. The exhibition remains on display in the Noberini Hall with original sketches, storyboards and drawings.
Luzzati first entered the enchanted world of The Magic Flute in 1963 with the production created for the Glyndebourne Festival, directed by Franco Enriquez, which the artist later described as “one of the highest and most important moments of my life.” The exhibition features the original design sketches created for that landmark production. In Luzzati’s interpretation, Mozart’s opera revealed its mastery, mystery, eccentricity and disarming simplicity, free from the darker overtones that often overshadow it. By creating not only the sets and costumes but also the production’s visual concept, Luzzati invited audiences to embark on a fantastical journey alongside Tamino and Papageno, sharing their sense of wonder at every turn. The production was met with outstanding success and received unanimous critical acclaim from the British press.

In 1978, together with Giulio Gianini, Luzzati created the animated film The Magic Flute, in which the characters merge seamlessly with Mozart’s score. Freed by the expressive possibilities of animation, his graphic language unfolds through vibrant fields of colour, creating a visually striking interpretation distinguished by its originality and poetic power.
At Casa Luzzati, original drawings, design sketches and stage backdrops are displayed alongside puppets, costume maquettes, book illustrations and sculptures, offering a unique perspective on Mozart’s celebrated opera.
The exhibition also provides an opportunity to discover the spirit of The Magic Flute through themed workshops and educational activities, where music and visual arts come together as an engaging introduction to the production staged at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa from 13 June, featuring Lele Luzzati’s original stage designs.

On view at Casa Luzzati from 25 April 2025.