German conductor Felix Reimann arrived in Mongolia to conduct Mozart’s Magic Flute Opera. He was already at the Opera House at 3 pm when he landed in Chinggis Khaan Airport at 1 pm to listen to the Mongolian orchestra. Our reporter talked to the maestro after rehearsal.

Welcome to Mongolia. How was your journey?
I was a little scared when the plane landed. The flight was a little difficult but I am glad to be here in Mongolia.
Are tired of jet-lag?
Yes. I am exhausted. We’ve just finished the first rehearsal of the orchestra. Now I will meet the singers.
Did you begin the rehearsal soon after landing in Mongolia?
Yes, because we have tight schedule. We’ve got only a week to prepare and I will leave on Sunday, day after the performance.
How many days would you do rehearsal?
We’ll have rehearsal every day until the opera performance. Orchestra and singers will rehearse jointly on Friday.
How did you accept the invitation from the Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet Mongolia?
I have got the idea to cooperate with Mongolian musicians when I met Mongolian performers in Germany. They excellently sang Mozart there last summer. I love Mozart. There is an orchestra named after Amadeus in Germany. We are planning to perform Mozart compositions with orchestra consisting of German and Mongolian musicians’ staff in near two years.
Why did you choose Magic Flute opera?
I was amazed by the orchestra skill and stage scene of the Magic Flute when I watched a record of the opera.
How will you value the Mongolian orchestra?
All musicians are very competent. Very skilled. Besides, the musical performance is different from the West. I could sense Russian influence in the musical culture. There is one difference. Western musical culture originated a little earlier. In other words, I seek original tune that Mozart performed in Western. Also the ancient musical instruments have different tunes from modern instruments. Mongolian musicians may have listened to the music a little differently today.
How many times have you previously conducted Magic Flute opera?
Magic Flute is very special to me because I conducted it for children when I was a student. When I watched Magic Flute during Saltzburg festival I said to my teacher “I want to perform the opera and I will sing the Papageno role”. My teacher allowed me to produce it myself. Thus, I produced it for children with a little simplification. I think people should active. I am very happy that I found people who love Mozart in faraway Mongolia. I was afraid of the rehearsal and now we overcome the rehearsal hinders.
Would the Magic Flute opera’s conversation be in Mongolian?
Yes. But singers will sing in German. We will work with singers’ accent because song words are very important in Mozart music.
What places are you going to see in Mongolia?
I am going to watch Zanabazar museum and to buy some cashmere clothes.
Have you arrived in Mongolia before? How about Mongolian food?
I traveled to the provinces and ate meat dishes. I like meat like you. Also Mongolian beer tastes good but it is dangerous. /laughed/