The Magic Flute chorus for several numbers (notably the finales of each act). Mozart also called for a "" (instrument of steel) to perform Papageno's magic bells; an instrument which has since been lost to history, though modern day scholars believe it to be a keyed glockenspiel, which is usually substituted with a celesta in modern-day performances. Charles Rosen has remarked on the character of Mozart's orchestration: "Die Zauberflöte" has the greatest variety of orchestral color that the eighteenth century was to know; the very lavishness, however, is paradoxically also an economy as each effect is a concentrated one, each one—Papageno's whistle, the
NI Opera version of "The Magic Flute", a touring production, with sold-out performances at the Lyric Players' Theatre, Belfast. In February 2015, NI Opera presented its first Richard Strauss opera, "Salome", at the Grand Opera House Belfast, with the Ulster Orchestra. Giselle Allen sang the title role. 2015 – 2016 season The company's season opened with the world premiere performance of Brian Irvine's golf opera, "Lovegolflove", a collaboration with playwright Owen McCafferty, as part of the Irish Open at Newcastle, County Down. In September 2015, in collaboration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the company staged its first Handel opera, "Agrippina", which toured