Opera Synopsis - Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Mozart, Die Zauberflote. Plot and characters.

Nov 5, 2009

The Magic Flute - Die Zauberflöte - by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) with librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder, premiered on Vienna in September 30, 1791.

Mozart's opera is a combination of simple German folk tunes and classic opera, and can be seen as a political satire, set against an Egyptian background. In 1791 Kaiser Leopold prohibited the craft of Freemasonry and it is said that the opera was written as a protest against the prohibition.

Cast of Characters

The opera begins with Tamino being pursued by a giant snake. Unable to escape, he faints. Hearing his cries, Three Ladies appear and kill the snake. Rejoicing that they have saved the youth, they note his beauty and reluctantly leave. Tamino recovers to find the snake dead and an odd looking man, clothed in feathers — Papageno — who tells him that he is in the land of the Queen of the Night, and boasts that he has killed the snake.

Hearing the lie, the Ladies reappear and place a padlock on Papageno’s mouth as punishment. They show Tamino a miniature of a beautiful girl, with whom he falls immediately in love. The Ladies tell Tamino that she has been imprisoned by Sarastro and he swears to rescue her. No sooner has he done this than the Queen of the Night appears, telling him that the maiden is her daughter and that if he is successful in rescuing her, she shall be his.

The Ladies return and free Papageno, giving him a set of magical chimes and Tamino, a golden flute to protect them on their journey on which they will be accompanied by three Genii.

In Sarastro’s palace Monastos is pursuing Pamina, but is frightened off by the appearance of Papageno, who recognises her. He assures her that rescue is coming, and her rescuer is noble and loves her despite having never seen her, mourning that such a thing has never happened to him. Pamina assures him that one day he will also find love.

Meanwhile, the Genii lead Tamino to a grove in which stand three temples, dedicated to Wisdom, Reason and Nature. They leave him, telling to wait and be patient. Instead, Tamino decides to enter the temples. He is refused entry to the first two, and when he gets to the third is halted by a priest who informs him that Sarastro is not a wicked sorcerer, but a man of wisdom and noble character.

Tamino is inspired by the priest to learn more, but then hears Papageno’s chimes. Papageno arrives, bringing Pamina. However, they are followed by Monastos, intending to capture them all. Papageno foils Monastos, playing on his chimes and setting him to dance while Tamino and Pamina escape.

While they are rejoicing at their escape, Sarastro appears. Pamina assures him that she was just trying to escape from Monastos. Monastos then drags Tamino in and denounces him but instead of being rewarded by Sarastro is sentenced to flogging. By the command of Sarastro, Tamino and Pamina are brought into the temple to prove that they are worthy of higher happiness.

Act II

Sarastro informs his priests that Tamino and Pamino shall marry, but before that can happen, Tamino must prove by his own power that he is worthy of admission to the temple. Sarastro takes Pamina under his protection. The couple must go through a number of trials to be worthy of entering the temple of light to thwart the evil plans of the Queen of the Night.

Tamino, with the faithful Papageno, are warned that they may face death in their quest and they must take a vow of silence. No sooner are they alone than they are confronted by the Three Ladies who try to persuade them to abandon their quest. However, they stand firm and the Ladies give up and leave. The priests arrive to congratulate them on passing the first test.

Left behind, Pamina is sleeping. Monastos creeps up on her, but is frightened off by the appearance of the Queen of the Night, who throws Pamina a dagger, saying that she must kill Sarastro. Monastos, who had hidden and watched, returns after the Queen leaves and threatens to expose Pamina, demanding her love in return for his silence. Sarastro appears just in time to fling Monastos aside, who departs saying he will try his luck with the Queen instead.

Papageno and Tamino are once again told they must remain silent. Papageno is cannot keep his vow and begins a conversation with an old crone who tells him she is his sweetheart, Papagena. As she leaves, the Genii return, bring food, the chimes and the flute. Pamina arrives in their wake, overjoyed to find Tamino, but dismayed to find that he won’t speak to her.

In a vault, Sarastro brings Tamino and Pamina together, telling them to say goodbye to each other. Papageno meets the old crone again, who tells him that he will suffer dire penalties if he isn’t true to her.

Alone, Pamina contemplates suicide. But she is brought to the temple were she joins with Tamino being prepared for their final ordeals, and is overjoyed to find that they can speak. After successfully completing ordeals of fire and water they are accepted into the temple. In parallel, Papageno is also contemplating suicide, mourning his inability to find love, but is found again by the crone, who reveals herself as a young maiden, Pagagena.

The Queen of the night and her Ladies are brought to the temple by Monastos to try once more to enact revenge, but the forces of light meet the onslaught of dark and prevail.

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