The Magic Flute

BY W.A. MOZART (SUNG IN ENGLISH)

2nd-6th November 2021

York Theatre Royal

Mozart’s last great operatic work, The Magic Flute [Die Zauberflöte] was first performed barely a month before the composer’s death in 1791 at the age of 35.

Synopsis

The opera is set in a legendary time and place.

A handsome prince, Tamino, is lost in a strange land, and is being pursued by a monster. Three mysterious women appear, who are servants of the Queen of Night, and they slay the monster. Afterwards, they give Tamino a portrait of the Queen’s daughter, Pamina, and he falls instantly in love, vowing to rescue her from the evil Sarastro, Priest of the Sun, in whose faraway Temple she has been imprisoned. The three women give Tamino a magic flute to help in his quest and, with the aid of a bird-catcher, Papageno, Tamino journeys to Sarastro’s temple, where he meets Pamina for the first time.

Tamino learns that it is not Sarastro who is evil but the Queen of Night and that Pamina was only being held to keep her hidden from her mother. Sarastro gives Tamino a new quest. He must now undergo a series of trials to prove himself worthy of Pamina’s love.

Using the power of the magic flute, Tamino and Pamina are able to overcome their trials and earn the right to be with each other. At the moment of their success, the Queen of Night arrives with her servants to storm the temple and destroy it, but Sarastro appears and defeats them, casting them out. The sun rises on a new era for the united heroes.

(Copied and slightly adapted by permission from Opera North, with our grateful thanks.)

Act 1

Tamino, a young prince is pursued by a serpent. Fainting, he is rescued by three ladies, servants of the Queen of Night, who argue over the attractive young man. They reluctantly leave having not settled their dispute.
On waking, still alive he is confronted by Pagageno, the pipe-playing bird catcher, and in the ladies’ absence believes that it is Papageno who has killed the creature. Leaping on his opportunity, Papageno happily takes the credit, until the three ladies suddenly reappear to reproach him for lying to Tamino, and punish him with only water to drink, a stone to eat, and a padlock on his mouth
To Tamino they present a present from the Queen of Night - a portrait of her daughter, with whom Tamino instantly falls in love. The ladies tell Tamino that she has been captured by Sarastro, supposedly a powerful and evil demon. Tamino vows to rescue her, and the Queen of the Night arrives to promise that Pamina will be his.
The queen leaves and the ladies who remove the padlock from Papageno’s mouth with a stern warning, and present Tamino with a gift: a magic flute which has the power to change sorrow to joy. They give Papageno magic bells for protection. They are introduced to three Genii who will guide them both to Sarastro’s temple.
Pamina is dragged in by Sarastro's slaves, apparently having tried to escape. Monostatos, chief of the slaves, orders the slaves to chain her and leave him alone with her. Papageno, sent ahead by Tamino to help find Pamina, enters. Monostatos and Papageno are each terrified by the other's strange appearance and both flee. Papageno returns and announces to Pamina that her mother has sent Tamino to save her. Pamina rejoices to hear that Tamino is in love with her. She offers sympathy and hope to Papageno, who longs for a wife. Together they reflect on the joys and sacred duties of marital love.
Tamino is led to Sarastro’s temple, readying him to rescue Pamina. He is confronted by voices from within, but an Orator lets him in, telling him that Sarastro is in fact benevolent, and that he should not trust the Queen of Night.
Tamino plays his magic flute, animals appear and dance, and in response he hears Papageno’s pipes offstage, and heads off to find him, whilst Papageno and Pamino arrive in search of him. They are captured by Monostatos and his band of slaves, but Papageno plays his magic bells, putting the slaves into a trance, dancing off the stage.
On hearing the sound of Sarastro’s retinue escape, Pagageno cowers in fear, as Pamino advises him to tell the truth. Sarastro enters, followed by a cheering crowd. Pamina falls at Sarastro's feet and confesses that she tried to escape because Monostatos had forced his attentions on her. Sarastro receives her kindly and assures her that he wishes only for her happiness. But he refuses to return her to her mother, whom he describes as a proud, headstrong woman, and a bad influence on those around her.
Monostatos brings in Tamino. The two lovers see one another for the first time and embrace, causing indignation among Sarastro's followers. Monostatos tells Sarastro that he caught Papageno and Pamina trying to escape, and demands a reward. Sarastro, however, punishes Monostatos for his lustful behaviour toward Pamina, and sends him away. He announces that Tamino must undergo trials of wisdom in order to become worthy as Pamina's husband. The priests declare that virtue and righteousness will sanctify life and make mortals like gods.

Act 2

The council of priests of Isis and Osiris, headed by Sarastro, enters to the sound of a solemn march. Sarastro tells the priests that Tamino is ready to undergo the ordeals that will lead to enlightenment. He invokes the gods Isis and Osiris, asking them to protect Tamino and Pamina.
Tamino and Papageno are led in by two priests for the first trial. The two priests advise Tamino and Papageno of the dangers ahead of them, warn them of women's wiles and swear them to silence. The three ladies appear and try to frighten Tamino and Papageno into speaking. Papageno cannot resist answering the ladies, but Tamino remains aloof, angrily instructing Papageno not to listen to the ladies' threats and to keep quiet. Seeing that Tamino will not speak to them, the ladies withdraw in confusion.
Pamina is asleep. Monostatos approaches and gazes upon her with rapture. He is about to kiss the sleeping Pamina, when the Queen of the Night appears. Monostatos hides. In response to the Queen's questioning, Pamina explains that Tamino is joining Sarastro's brotherhood and that she is thinking of accompanying him. The Queen is not pleased. She explains that her husband, the previous owner of the temple, on his deathbed gave the ownership to Sarastro instead of to her, rendering the Queen powerless. She gives Pamina a dagger, ordering her to kill Sarastro with it and threatening to disown her if she does not. She leaves. Monostatos returns and tries to force Pamina's love by threatening to reveal the Queen's plot, but Sarastro enters and drives him off. Pamina begs Sarastro to forgive her mother and he reassures her that revenge and cruelty have no place in his domain.
Tamino and Papageno are led in by priests, who remind them that they must remain silent. Papageno complains of thirst. An old woman enters and offers Papageno a cup of water. He drinks and teasingly asks whether she has a boyfriend. She replies that she does and that his name is Papageno. She disappears as Papageno asks for her name, and the Three Genii bring in food, the magic flute, and the bells, sent from Sarastro. Tamino begins to play the flute, which summons Pamina. She tries to speak with him, but Tamino, bound by his vow of silence, cannot answer her, and Pamina begins to believe that he no longer loves her. She leaves in despair.
The priests celebrate Tamino's successes so far, and pray that he will succeed and become worthy of their order. Pamina is brought in and Sarastro instructs Pamina and Tamino to bid each other farewell before the greater trials ahead, alarming them by describing it as their "final farewell". They exit and Papageno enters. The priests grant his request for a glass of wine and he expresses his desire for a wife. The elderly woman reappears and warns him that unless he immediately promises to marry her, he will be imprisoned forever. When Papageno promises to love her faithfully (muttering that he will only do this until something better comes along), she is transformed into the young and pretty Papagena. Papageno rushes to embrace her, but the priests drive him back, telling him that he is not yet worthy of her.
The three Genii hail the dawn. They observe Pamina, who is contemplating suicide because she believes Tamino has abandoned her. The child-spirits restrain her and reassure her of Tamino's love.
Two men in armor lead in Tamino. They recite one of the formal creeds of Isis and Osiris, promising enlightenment to those who successfully overcome the fear of death. Tamino declares that he is ready to be tested. Pamina calls to him from offstage. The men in armour assure him that the trial by silence is over and he is free to speak with her. Pamina enters and declares her intention to undergo the remaining trials with him. She hands him the magic flute to help them through the trials. Protected by the music of the magic flute, they pass unscathed through chambers of fire and water.
Papageno despairs at having lost Papagena and decides to hang himself . The three Genii appear and stop him. They advise him to play his magic bells to summon Papagena. She appears and, united, the happy couple stutter in astonishment and make bird-like courting sounds at each other. They plan their future and dream of the many children they will have together
The traitorous Monostatos appears with the Queen of Night and her three ladies. They plot to destroy the temple and the Queen confirms that she has promised her daughter Pamina to Monostatos. But before the conspirators can enter the temple, they are magically cast out into eternal night.
Sarastro announces the sun's triumph over the night, and hails the dawn of a new era of wisdom and brotherhood. Animals appear again and dance in the sun.

Did you know…?

This will be the fourth time York Opera have performed The Magic Flute? In 1992, 1996, and 2009.

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