In 1791 the ''special effects'' in Mozart's The Magic Flute were ground-breaking, so Otago Opera hopes its 2015 production will be the same.
''We want to try and do special theatre effects fitting for 2015,'' Emeritus Prof John Drummond says.
It was the third time the company had performed The Magic Flute but this time they wanted to do it differently.
The production would feature ''high tech'' visual effects but he would not reveal all the details except to say there would be some projection of moving images.
''You'll be just as impressed by the visual effects as they were for the original.
''It's going to be fun.''
With the help of the Mayfair Theatre's ''technical wizard'', Ryan Walker, the aim was to add another dimension to an old performance, he said.
''He's got lots of ideas and we're telling him to go for it.''
While the music was 224 years old, the technology had only been around about five years and some was being developed by Mr Walker, Prof Drummond said.
''It'll be a nice mix of old and new. It's modern magic.''
The story was based on the conflict between a wicked witch, the Queen of the Night, representing autocratic government, and the good wizard Sarastro, representing the forces of enlightenment, reason and wisdom.
In Opera Otago's product the Queen of the Night was the head of a corporation, chief executive of Night Inc which dealt in currency and commodity transactions while the wizard was a ''greenie''.
''They represent the two opposing world-views these days. We've updated some of the dialogue, giving it a more contemporary context.''
However, the character of Papageno, the bird catcher and comic sidekick stays the same.
''I think the cast have found it an intriguing way to do it.''
The cast of young singers were committed and enthusiastic about the production, he said. The performers include students from the University of Otago's department of music, coached by Judy Bellingham and Judith Henley. Leading roles will be sung by James Adams (Tamino), Ingrid Fomison-Nurse (Queen of the Night), Sophie Sparrow (Pamina), Robert Lindsay (Sarastro), Tyler Neumann (Papageno) and Ben Madden (Monostatos).
The music director is international renowned young Aucklander Tianyi Lu.
''One of our goals is to give young people a good opportunity to get experience. For some of them it is their first production and for young professionals they need as many opportunities they can get.''
He believed ''diehard'' opera fans would not be horrified by the changes.
''I hope not. I know most of the audience will enjoy it. The characters are basically the same, as is the music.''
In modern terms, The Magic Flute was written as an Off-Broadway musical, Prof Drummond said. It included a lot of topical references and the show altered depending on what Mozart wanted to say on the night.
''It was not an opera locked in concrete. It was a lively contemporary musical comedy of the time.''
Prof Drummond hoped they were infusing this latest production with a similar spirit.
''I do not think Mozart would mind. He had a great sense of humour. He liked to go to a popular entertainment show.''
