The Magic Flute (1980)

The action of the opera tokes place on a secluded island where Diano has retired with her attendant Nymphs, all dedicated to a life of chastity. The Tree where their ceremonies ore performed hos magical qualities which test their virtue and reveal the slightest tendency to backsliding, even in thought.

A new guardian for the Tree, the shepherd Doristo, is brought to the island. He is left sleeping near the magical Tree by Diana’s three favorite Nymphs, l3ritomorte, Clizio and Cloe. He wakes and marvels at his surroundings. Suddenly Amore appears, explains Diana’s plans for him, and asks him to help in upsetting them. Doristo is all for seducing the girls at once, but Amore warns him not to be rash, and disappears. Diano and her somewhat unwilling companions arrive, extolling the virtues of their chaste, secluded life. Doristo at once scandalizes Diano, and boldly asks her for a kiss. For this he is transformed into a tree and left alone. Amore has led Endimione and Silvio to the island, and they now run into the garden, quarreling over Silvio’s favorite dog. They’re interrupted by Amore, now disguised as a girl, who restores Doristoto life and disappears again, leaving him to explain the situation as best he con to the others. They all look for ways to escape, but are mocked by the unseen Amore. Diana’s three Nymphs now discover the men.

Scene I
Sometime in the past, the King of the Sun entrusted (upon his death) his greatest friend Sarastro, High Priest of the Sun, with the mighty Shield of the Sun to hold in trust for the new rulers of the land. The power of the Sun is the power of life, so the late King’s consort wants it for herself. Sarastro has taken Pamina from her dangerous mother, the Queen of the Night, who is scheming to get her back.

When the opera opens, Prince Tamino is being pursued by a monster sent by the Queen, who with her Three Ladies has lured him into her kingdom, where no daylight has been seen since the death of the King. The Queen has chosen Tamino as the intrepid knight who must rescue her daughter from Sarastro. After the Three Ladies save Tamino from the monster, he accidentally meets the Queen’s bird-catcher, Papageno, a simple soul with much character and little courage. Tamino falls in love with Pamina’s portrait, and having been seduced by the Queen’s starry brilliance, he sets out on his quest accompanied by Papageno. For protection, he is given a magic flute (carved by the King of the Sun), and Papageno is given some magic bells. They are guided by the Three Boys.

Scene ii
All is not as it seems in the gardens of Sarastro. He has not yet revealed his reasons to Pamina for taking her away from her mother. She is troubled by this separation, and is also suffering from the attentions of Monostatos, a deceitful Moor in the service of Sarastro. Tamino and Papageno have gone in separate directions to search for Pamina; Papageno comes upon Monostatos harassing Pamina, frightens him away, and escapes with Pamina.

Scene iii
Meanwhile, led by the boys, Tamino arrives outside the Temple of the Sun. He is turned back at the gates of Nature and Reason, and is disconcerted to have all his prejudices against Sarastro contradicted by the Spokesman of the temple. His flute calms the wild animals in the forest around him and his own fears as well, but the darkness of night still lies heavy on his soul, so he begins to despair. Monostatos and his slaves rush upon Pamina and Papageno, but the magic bells save them from capture. Sarastro is returning from the hunt at dawn and deals out merciful justice to well-wishers and wrongdoers alike. Pamina and Tamino meet for the first time, rapturously, only to be separated as Tamino is led with Papageno into the temple to begin his trials. He is now fully convinced that what Sarastro and his Brotherhood have to offer- the Truth and the Light- contain the essence of life.

Within, without, beneath, and beyond the Temple of the Sun.

Scene i
Troubled by the ordeals ahead, Sarastro appeals to the Brotherhood for support in his decision both to submit Tamino’s love and steadfastness to their tests of initiation, and to choose Pamina as the young prince’s bride.

Scene ii
The Trial of Earth takes place deep underground in the vaults of the temple. Tamino and Papageno begin their trials together, for the small and the great must suffer and be rewarded in equal measure. The first trial requires silence in the face of adversity. Tamino triumphs; Papageno scrapes by even though the Three Ladies appear to tempt and berate and threaten them.

Scene iii
Pamina lies asleep when Monostatos decides to tempt her virtue. He is thwarted by the appearance of the Queen, who now reveals her true intentions to Pamina: Sarastro is to be killed, and the powerful Shield of the Sun, which was entrusted to him by Pamina’s father, must be returned to the Queen, or Pamina will never see her mother again. Monostatos tries to capitalize on this discovery, but he is banished by Sarastro, who has witnessed the whole event He tries to make Pamina see that love, not hatred and revenge, will triumph in the end.

Scene iv
Tamino and Papageno face the Trial of Air, a trial of the spirit A magical feast appears, and the starving bird- catcher falls upon it Tamino abstains, only to find that he must also reject the troubled Pamina when she appeals to him for love and comfort. This is a trial for Pamina, too, for she must also prove herself worthy of her destiny. Tamino is led away while Papageno, by now quite tipsy, finds he is more hungry for love than for food and drink. An old woman appears.to claim him as her husband; Papageno gives in to her only as a result of threats and blackmail. The old bird then reveals herself as the beautiful Papagena, promised to him as a reward if he proves worthy. The Priests angrily dismiss her, and Papageno gives futile chase. Sarastro and the Priests now prepare Tamino and Pamina for their final trials; they are both allowed to believe that these will involve irrevocable separation.

Scene v
Pamina tries to kill herself out of despair, but the Three Boys, charged with her care, prevent her and- later – Papageno. They reveal to her that she is to be allowed to join Tamino in his greatest and most dangerous trial.

Scene vi
Two Armed Men, the guardians of the temple, prepare Tamino for his ordeal by Fire and Water. Pamina appears and they are reunited. Pamina now explains to him the function of the magic flute as a talisman against danger. Protected by the flute’s music, but more by their own strength of love and purpose, Pamina and Tamino survive the trials and are welcomed by the Brotherhood as man and wife.

Scene vii
Meanwhile, Papageno has quite failed to find his chosen bride and, since the ladies in the audience are unwilling or unable to help him out, he prepares to hang himself. When it is quite clear that love has given him, too, a kind of strength of purpose, the boys reunite him with Papagena. Promises of marital bliss are declared.

Scene viii
All the Queen’s plans have been thwarted, so she decides to invade the Temple of the Sun, aided by her attendants and the treacherous Moor, in order to wrest the shield and its power away from Saras1ro by force. She has not counted on the victory achieved by her daughter with Tamino; as a result of their love and self- sacrifice, the sun once again blazes forth upon the earth and night is vanquished, and with it the tears that have threatened mankind. Love and brotherhood have triumphed; Sarastro abdicates his power to the new order. Tamino and Pamina are hailed.