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The Magic Flute

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756–1791

A German opera in 2 acts
Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder
First performed September 30 1791, Freihaustheater auf der Wieden, Vienna

This production first seen October 2 2022
Performed in German with German & English surtitles

Introductory talks (in German) in the Holzfoyer 30 mins before performances begin and on video here

Conductor: Marie Jacquot (Feb 2, 4, 9 & 11), Takeshi Moriuchi (Feb 17 & 24), Alden Gatt (June 13, 21 & 27)

Tamino Magnus Dietrich / Kudaibergen Abildin (June)
Pamina Elena Villalón / Karolina Bengtsson (June)
Papageno Danylo Matviienko / Domen Križaj (June)
Sarastro Kihwan Sim / Andreas Bauer Kanabas
Queen of the Night Clara Kim°
1st Lady Bianca Tognocchi
2nd Lady Cecelia Hall
3rd Lady Katharina Magiera
Monostatos Peter Marsh
Papagena Idil Kutay°
Speaker / 1st Priest Jarrett Porter°
2nd Priest NN
1st Armed Man NN
2nd Armed Man NN
3 singers from Oper Frankfurt's children's chorus

°Member of the Opera Studio

Pursued by a serpent, Prince Tamino passes out. Three ladies, sent by the Queen of the Night, rush to his aid. When he regains consciousness he sees the bird-catcher Papageno, who maintains he saved Tamino’s life. The ladies punish him for lying by locking his mouth and give Tamino a picture of Pamina, their mistress’ daughter. Tamino falls in love at first sight, but is told she’s been abducted. The Queen appears: promising Tamino her daughter’s hand in marriage if he rescues her from Sarastro’s clutches. Papageno is to accompany Tamino on this enterprise. They’re given a magic flute and glockenspiel to protect them from danger; three boys will show them the way. Monostatos, one of Sarastro’s henchmen, harasses imprisoned Pamina. When he starts getting closer to her, Papageno appears: they frighten each other out of their wits, and Monostatos flees. Papageno tells Pamina that Tamino loves her and is coming to rescue her. He suffers terribly too, because he hasn’t found a wife yet. He and Pamina praise the power of love. Tamino manages to enter the heart of Sarastro’s realm, guided by the boys. A priest takes him to task, warning him to cast aside his prejudices against Sarastro. Papageno and Pamina are caught trying to flee by Monostatos and his men. His glockenspiel stops them being taking prisoner again. When Sarastro returns, Pamina bluntly tells him why she ran away. Sarastro forgives her and punishes Monostatos, who has meanwhile tracked Tamino down. Pamina and Tamino meet for the first time, but are not allowed to touch: Sarastro leads Tamino and Papageno into his temple of trials. ACT 2 At a gathering of priests Sarastro explains his plan to unite Pamina with Tamino, who must undergo a series of trials first. Tamino can’t wait to begin, while Papageno can only be persuaded by being promised a pretty girl. Both are put under oath not to speak to women. The Queen’s three ladies try to lead them astray, but are thwarted by Tamino’s steadfastness. Monostatos tries to approach Pamina again while she sleeps. The Queen of the Night steps in. She orders Pamina to kill Sarastro. Monostatos, who heard everything, blackmails Pamina: She must give herself to him or he’ll denounce her mother to Sarastro. Sarastro refrains from taking revenge on the Queen. Papageno talks to an old woman, who says he’s her lover. She’s taken from him before he can find out her name. The boys return the magic flute and glockenspiel to the examinees, reminding them not to talk. Pamina, drawn by Tamino’s flute, approaches him. When he, mindful of his oath, refuses to speak, she doubts his love for her. Sarastro’s priests praise Tamino’s self-discipline. Sarastro allows Pamina and Tamino to say a brief farewell before the final trials. Papageno, left on his own, suffers from his yearning for love. The old lady appears again. When Papageno reluctantly agrees to marry her she turns into his Papagena, but is snatched away from him again. Believing that Tamino has spurned her, Pamina intends to kill herself. The three boys save her and proclaim Tamino’s unshakable love for her. Tamino is being prepared for the last important test: accompanied by Pamina the couple will undertake the trials of fire and water, protected by the magic flute. Papageno’s desperately looking for Papagena. He’s so lovesick he wants to hang himself but, in the nick of time, the boys remind him of his glockenspiel, which summons his beloved at last. Under Monostatos’ guidance the Queen and her three ladies force their way into Sarastro’s temple. But his power casts the conspirators into eternal darkness. Nothing now stands between Tamino and Pamina’s future life together. The sun shines and Sarastro’s priests praise perseverance’s triumph.

Thought »contrived« and hailed as a »masterpiece«, Die Zauberflöte still fascinates today. Breakneck coloraturas, buffo ensembles and beautiful arias combine in Mozart’s most complex score: it centres on an obstacle-strewn love story: Tamino must undergo a series of trials before being accepted into Sarastro’s brotherhood of wisdom. Only then can he marry his beloved Pamina, who’s being held prisoner by Sarastro … Ted Huffmann’s production highlights not only the challenges the young couple face, but also the strains a long term relationship can bring. His subtle, almost sleepwalking aesthetic makes the mysterious beauty of Mozart’s music even more apparent.