Opera Guide and Synopsis: Mozart's The Magic Flute Die Zauberflote

The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1791, the year in which the composer died. The libretto was written by Emmanuel Schikaneder, who also played Papageno in the opera's premiere.

The story is at its core a fairy tale for both children and adults, full of Masonic symbolism that is sometimes obscured by translation and frequent dialogue cuts. Its music, some of the greatest in all opera, ranges from simple, folk-like tunes such as Papageno's "Ein Vogelfänger bin ich ja" to the raging virtuosity of the Queen of the Night's "Der Hölle Rache."

Characters in The Magic Flute

• Tamino, a prince of a faraway land (Tenor)
• Papageno, a bird-catcher (Baritone)
• The Queen of the Night (Soprano)
• Three Ladies, attendants of the Queen (Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Alto)
• Pamina, daughter of the Queen (Soprano)
• Monostatos, a Moor (Tenor)
• Gatekeeper of the Temple (Bass)
• Sarastro, leader of the Temple (Bass)
• Two priests (Tenor, Bass)
• Papagena, the bird-catcher's promised mate (Soprano)

Synopsis of The Magic Flute

Act I

Tamino flees from a giant serpent, calling for help. He faints, and the Three Ladies appear to kill the serpent and rescue him. They argue over who will guard the handsome young prince, but eventually all return to the Queen.

Tamino awakes to find the serpent dead. Papageno, a strange bird-like man, arrives, expressing his desire to find a wife. He introduces Tamino to this new land and claims to have killed the serpent. The Three Ladies return and put a padlock on Papageno's mouth to punish him for lying.

The Three Ladies show Tamino a picture of the Queen's daughter, Pamina, who has been kidnapped by Sarastro. Tamino falls instantly in love. The Queen of the Night appears and enlists Tamino to rescue her daughter. The Three Ladies remove Papageno's padlock and give him magic bells and Tamino a magic flute to help them on their journey. They are also introduced to three spirit guides in the form of young boys.

In Sarastro's palace, Pamina is being held against her will by Monostatos, who desires her love. Papageno arrives; he and Monostatos mistake each other for the Devil, and Monostatos flees. Papageno identifies Pamina as the girl in the picture and escapes with her to meet Tamino.

The Three Boys lead Tamino to Sarastro's temples. He is driven away from two doors but enters a third, where a priest tells him that Sarastro is good and the Queen of the Night is the one who is lying and manipulating. He hopes that Pamina is still alive and, being told that she is, attempts to call her with the magic flute.

Papageno and Pamina hear Tamino's flute, but are caught by Monostatos and his slaves. They use Papageno's magic bells to force Monostatos and the slaves to dance, allowing them to make their escape.

Sarastro arrives. Pamina confesses the truth to him. Sarastro is kind, but cannot set her free to return to her mother. He has Monostatos punished for his actions and separates Tamino and Pamina so that Tamino and Papageno can face their trials.

Act II

The priests decide that Tamino can marry Pamina if he passes the trials. The first trial is silence. The Three Ladies appear and try to get Tamino and Papageno to speak. Papageno fails, but the priests eventually chase the Three Ladies away.

Monostatos watches Pamina sleep and bemoans the fact that no one will love him because of the color of his skin. The Queen of the Night appears and tells Pamina about the sevenfold sun-circle, which Sarastro stole from Pamina's late father. She gives Pamina a dagger and instructs her to kill Sarastro or face her mother's anger. Monostatos tries to approach Pamina again, but Sarastro chases him away and comforts Pamina.

An old woman appears to Papageno, claiming to be his Papagena, but she soon disappears. Tamino is more successful in remaining silent, but his refusal to speak to Pamina drives her to despair, believing that he no longer loves her. Sarastro parts them once again.

Papagena once again visits Papageno and makes him promise to marry her. She turns into a young, beautiful woman and again disappears.

The Three Boys prevent Pamina from committing suicide and take her to be with Tamino as he faces the trials. They pass through the trials of fire and water together with the help of the magic flute.

Papageno attempts suicide, thinking that he's lost his Papagena, but the Three Boys show him how to call her using his magic bells. The two reunite and promise to have many children.

Sarastro welcomes the victorious Pamina and Tamino, but the Queen of the Night and Monostatos make one last assault on Sarastro's temple. They are easily defeated, and the powers of light prevail.

Sources

John, Nicholas, ed. The Magic Flute: English National Opera Guide. London: Calder Publications, 1980.

Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goers' Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.