Mysterious rather than magical, shrouded in swirling cloud and gloom, the Royal Opera's Die Zauberflote, in David McVicar's 2003 production, has been revived for a third time. If as yet it remains low voltage, one central performance binds all together with energy and brilliance.

The evening sparked into life with a vibrant account of the overture under German conductor Roland Boer. String playing was lithe and sinewy, with punchy woodwind and a notably fruity, well characterised bassoon line. But John Macfarlane's elaborate sets, a non-specific space dominated by ever shifting black columns, present a shunting yard of murky abstraction.

Were it not pitch dark, it would, I feel sure, look handsome.

The Three Ladies, stunningly weird, sounded classy, and the Three Boys displayed fine, bell-like confidence and zest. Genia Kuhmeier's Pamina had touching purity of tone but even less personality than Christophe Strehl's underpowered Tamino. Stephen Milling mustered eloquent solemnity as Sorastro.

As the Queen of the Night, Erika Miklósa hits the coloratura spot on and with the assurance to colour and shade it. Yet she doesn't freeze your heart as this thrilling, ambiguous role can. John Graham-Hall's eerily foppish, bewigged Monostatos is masterly and Thomas Allen adds cameo quality as The Speaker.

The joy, and the reason to go, is Simon Keenlyside's Papageno. This most generous of artists pours head, heart and magnificent voice into each note, each gesture.

Mozart's librettist and director, Schikaneder, created the part for himself, giving himself the best music and the best gags. Keenlyside likewise relishes every moment, with endless tumbles, somersaults, skids, even a cartwheel, delivered with bendy rag-doll ease.

He looks suitably terrified when his good-time girl Papagena (Kishani Jayasinghe) thunders into view and pounces. In big baggy suit, with braces hanging and crumpled expression on his face, Keenlyside manages to be Chaliapin and Chaplin rolled into one. This is a feat worth experiencing.

• Until 1 March. Cast change includes Christopher Maltman as Papageno. Information: 020 7304 4000.