The Magic Flute

Synopsis:

Act 1

Scene 1 A mythical land between the sun and the moon
Tamino, a handsome Prince, lost in a distant land, is being pursued by a serpent (Quartet: Zu Hülfe! Zu Hülfe!/Help! Help!). He faints from fatigue and three Ladies, attendants of the Queen of the Night, appear and kill the serpent. They all fall in love with the Prince and each plots to be alone with him. After arguing, they decide it best that they all leave together.

Tamino recovers to see Papageno, arrayed entirely in the plumage of birds, who sings of his job as a bird-catcher and the fact that he is longing for a wife, or, at least, a girlfriend (Aria: Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja/A birdcatcher, am I). Papageno says that he brings the birds that he catches to the Queen of the Night's servants, who give him food and drink in return. Papageno also claims that he has saved Tamino and strangled the serpent with his bare hands. At this moment, the three Ladies re-appear and punish Papageno’s lie by paying for his birds with a stone instead of food, water instead of wine, and placing a padlock over his mouth. They tell Tamino that they were responsible for saving him. He deeply appreciates them and they show the Prince a miniature of a young maiden, Pamina, with whom he falls instantly in love (Aria: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön/This image is captivatingly lovely).

In a burst of thunder, The Queen of the Night appears, demanding that Tamino free her daughter from the hands of Sarastro, promising Tamino that he may marry Pamina in return. (Recitative and aria: O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn/Oh, tremble not, my dear son). The Ladies give Tamino a magic flute that can change men's hearts, remove the padlock from Papageno, presenting him with a chime of bells for protection. Papageno accompanies Tamino as they set forth, guided by the three Spirits (Quintet: Hm hm hm hm).

Scene 2: Sarastro's palace
Pamina is dragged in by Sarastro's servant Monostatos, a Moor, who is attempting to assault her (Trio: Du feines Täubchen, nun herein!/You dainty little lamb, come in). Sent ahead by Tamino to find Pamina, Papageno arrives. Monostatos and Papageno are each terrified by the other's strange appearance and flee the stage. But Papageno soon returns and announces to Pamina that her mother has sent Tamino to her aid. Pamina rejoices to hear that Tamino is in love with her, and then offers sympathy and hope to Papageno, who longs for a Papagena to love. Together they sing an ode to love (Duet: Bei Männern welche Liebe fühlen/Near men, who feel love), then depart.

Scene 3: Grove and entrance to the temples
The three Spirits lead in the Prince. As Tamino reaches the Temple, he is denied entrance at the Gates of Nature and Reason by invisible voices (Zurück!/Go back!). But when he tries the Gate of Wisdom, a Priest appears and gradually convinces Tamino that Sarastro is benevolent, not evil. After the Priest leaves, Tamino plays his magic flute in hopes of summoning Pamina and Papageno. The tones of his magical instrument summon first a group of magically tamed beasts, then the sound of Papageno's pipes. Ecstatic at the thought of meeting Pamina, Tamino hurries off.

Papageno appears with Pamina, following the distant sound of Tamino's flute. The two are suddenly apprehended by Monostatos and his slaves. Papageno then works an enchantment on them with his magic bells, and they dance, blissfully and involuntarily, off the stage.

Papageno now hears the approach of Sarastro and his large retinue. He is frightened and asks Pamina what they should say. She answers that they must tell the truth. Sarastro and his followers enter.

Sarastro conducts an impromptu judicial proceeding. Pamina falls at his feet and confesses that she was trying to escape because Monostatos had demanded her love. Sarastro receives her kindly and tells her that she will eventually have her freedom but will not return to her mother.

Monostatos then enters with Tamino captive. Pamina and Tamino see one another for the first time and instantly embrace. Monostatos tries to point the finger of blame at Tamino. Sarastro, however, punishes Monostatos for his lustful intentions toward Pamina, and leads Tamino and Papageno into the Temple. The Brotherhood sends them on in a glorious chorus (Dann ist die Erd’ ein Himmelreich, und Sterbliche den Göttern gleich/The Earth a heavenly kingdom, and mortals like the gods).

Act 2

Scene 4: A grove of palms
Led by Sarastro, the Council of Priests enters to the sound of a solemn march. They determine that Tamino shall be united with Pamina and succeed Sarastro as leader, if he successfully passes the trials. Sarastro explains that the Queen of the Night has attempted to bewilder the people with superstitious, groundless fears. He then sings a prayer to the gods (O, Isis und Osiris/Oh, Isis and Osiris) asking them to protect Tamino and Pamina and to take them into their heavenly dwelling place should they die during the course of their trials.

Scene 5: The courtyard of the Temple
Tamino and Papageno are led into the Temple. Tamino is cautioned that this is his last chance to turn back, but he states that he will undergo every trial to win his Pamina. Papageno declines the trials at first, saying that he doesn't care much about wisdom, desiring only food, wine, and a pretty woman. The Priest tells Papageno that Sarastro may have a woman for him if he undergoes the trials, and that she is called Papagena. Reluctantly, Papageno agrees to undergo the trials.

In the first trial, Tamino and Papageno must remain silent when tempted by women. The three Ladies appear tempting the men to speak. (Quintet: Wie, wie, wie?/How, how, how?). Papageno cannot resist answering the ladies, but Tamino remains aloof, speaking only to Papageno, telling him to be quiet. Seeing that Tamino will not speak to them, the Ladies withdraw.

One of the Priests scolds Papageno for his weakness and tells him that he will never know the enlightened bliss of the gods. Papageno replies that there are a great many people in the world like himself, unenlightened but happy, and asks why he must undergo tests if Sarastro already has a woman selected for him. The Priest says that it is the only way.

Scene 6: A garden, Pamina asleep
Monostatos approaches and gazes upon Pamina with rapture (Aria: Alles fühlt der Liebe Freuden/Everyone feels friendly love). He is about to kiss her sleeping face, when the Queen of the Night appears. She wakes Pamina and gives her a dagger, ordering her to kill Sarastro with it. (Aria: Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen/The wrath of Hell boils in my heart). After she leaves, Monostatos tries to force Pamina's love by threatening to reveal the murder-plot, but Sarastro enters and drives him off. Sarastro forgives and comforts Pamina (Aria: In diesen heil'gen Hallen/Within these holy halls).

Scene 7: A hall in the Temple
Tamino and Papageno must again pass the test of silence. Pamina enters and tries to speak with Tamino. Since Tamino refuses to answer, Pamina believes he no longer loves her (Aria: Ach, ich fühl's/Ah, I feel it).

Scene 8: The Pyramids
The Priests of the Temple celebrate Tamino's successes so far, and predict that he will succeed and become worthy of their order (Chorus: O Isis und Osiris). Sarastro separates Pamina from Tamino (Trio: Soll ich dich, Teurer, nicht mehr sehn?/So I must see you never again?). Papageno plays his magic bells and sings about his desire for a wife (Aria: Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen/A maiden or a wife). An elderly woman appears to him and demands that he pledge engagement to her, warning that if he doesn't, he will remain alone forever. Reluctantly, Papageno promises to love her faithfully. She reveals only her name, Papagena. As Papageno rushes to embrace her, however, the Priests drive her away with thunder and lightning.

Scene 9: An open country
The three Spirits see Pamina attempting to commit suicide because she believes Tamino has abandoned her. They restrain her and take away her dagger, promising that she will see him soon (Quartet: Bald prangt, den Morgen zu verkünden/Soon shines, proclaiming the morrow).

Scene 10: A hall with two doors: one leads to a chamber of trial by water and the other to a cavern of fire.
Two men in armor lead Tamino onstage. They recite, in unison, one of the formal creeds of the god Isis, promising enlightenment to those who successfully overcome the fear of death (Der, welcher wandert diese Strasse voll Beschwerden/Man,who wanders this path full of tribulation). Tamino declares he is ready to be tested, but Pamina, offstage, calls for him to wait for her. The men in armor assure Tamino that the trial by silence is accomplished and he is now allowed to speak with her. Pamina enters, and exchanges loving words with Tamino (Tamino mein, o welch ein Glück!/My Tamino, such bliss!"). United in harmony, they enter the trials together. Protected by the music of the magic flute, they pass unscathed through fire and water. Offstage, the Priests hail their triumph.

Papageno, having given up all hope of winning Papagena, wishes to hang himself (Aria/Quartet: Papagena!/Halt ein!/Papagena!/Stop!), but at the last minute the three Spirits appear and remind him that he should use his magic bells to summon her, instead. Papagena re-enters, and the happy couple is united, stuttering at first in astonishment (Duet: Pa…Pa…Pa…Papageno! Papagena!).

The traitorous Monostatos appears with the Queen of the Night and her Ladies to destroy the Temple (Nur stille, stille/But quietly, quietly), but, in a stroke of magic, they are banished into eternal night.

The scene now changes to the entrance of the chief Temple, where Sarastro bids the young lovers welcome and unites them. The final chorus sings the praises of Isis and Osiris and the triumph of courage, virtue, and wisdom in echoing the text at the end of Act I (Dann ist die Erd’ ein Himmelreich, und Sterbliche den Göttern gleich/The Earth a heavenly kingdom, and mortals like the gods).

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