Listen to songs from Die Zauberflöte :
Aria 'Zu Hilfe' Francisco Araiza, tenore.
Except from Aria 'O zitt're nicht' Karin Ott.
'Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen' Erna Berger.
'Zum Leiden bin ich auserkoren' Erna Berger.
'O Zitt're Nicht, Mein Lieber Sohn' Jutta Vulpius.
'O Isis Und Osiris' Emanuel List.
'Dies Bildnis ist ..' Placido Domingo.
MIDI-files of the whole Opera.
Credits for the first 2 music-files: Mozart, "Die Zauberflöte", Deutsche Gramaphon, Berliner Philarmoniker, Herbert von Karajan. © 1980, PolyGram
(A picture of the New York City Opera.)
ACT I :
Prince Tamino, fleeing from a monster, faints. Three mysterious ladies appear, kill the beast, and pause to admire the handsome prince before hurrying back to their mistress, the Queen of the Night. Papageno, a birdcatcher, arrives and, upon awakening, Tamino thanks Papageno for killing the monster. When Papageno boasts of this fictitious deed, the Three Ladies seal his mouth with a lock to keep him from lying again. They present Tamino with a picture of the Queen of the Night’s daughter, Pamina, and Tamino falls instantly in love. The Queen of the Night appears and implores Tamino to save her daughter from the clutches of the “evil” Sarastro. Tamino promises to rescue the Princess. The Three Ladies present Tamino with a magic flute and Papageno with magic bells for protection on their mission. Led by Three Boys, Tamino and Papageno begin their journey. In the palace of Sarastro, the slave Monostatos tries to force himself upon Pamina. Papageno stumbles upon them and frightens Monostatos away. Papageno tells Pamina that her mother the Queen has sent him and Tamino to rescue her. The Three Boys lead Tamino to a wood, where he finds three portals. Mysterious voices forbid him to enter two of them, but behind the third, Tamino finds the Speaker, who informs him that Sarastro has good reason to keep Pamina away from the Queen of the Night. Left alone, Tamino plays his magic flute and wild animals emerge to listen to the music. Papageno and Pamina enter in search of Tamino, and Monostatos and his slaves enter and seize them. Papageno plays his magic bells and Monostatos, overcome by their merry tones, releases his captives. Sarastro and his followers arrive. Pamina confesses her escape attempt to Sarastro, who forgives her but forbids her to return to her mother, the Queen of the Night. When Tamino enters, he and Pamina immediately fall in love, but Sarastro separates them, telling Pamina that they will be reunited when Tamino has proved his worthiness.
(A picture of the Capital City Opera Company.)
ACT II :
Sarastro and his priests agree to welcome Tamino into their order if he can pass their trials. The priests order Tamino and Papageno to keep a vow of silence. The Three Ladies appear and beg the two men to leave the temple and return to the Queen of the Night, but Tamino and Papageno remain steadfast. While asleep, Pamina is stalked by Monostatos, who tries to steal a kiss. The Queen of the Night interrupts and commands Pamina to kill Sarastro with a dagger she provides. The eavesdropping Monostatos threatens to expose the plot if Pamina does not submit to his lust. Sarastro dismisses Monostatos and assures Pamina that he will not punish her mother’s treachery. Though Tamino and Papageno are obliged to fulfill their vow of silence, Papageno chats with a mysterious old woman. Pamina tries in vain to converse with the silent Tamino. She takes his silence for rejection, thinking he no longer loves her. Sarastro tells Pamina and Tamino that they must bid farewell to one another. The mysterious old woman visits Papageno again and is transformed into a beautiful young woman, Papagena, but a priest spirits her away from the unworthy Papageno. The Three Boys discover Pamina on the brink of suicide. They convince her that Tamino truly loves her and they offer to take her to him. Two priests bring Tamino to his final trial. Pamina meets him and assures him that the magic flute will protect them from harm. As Tamino plays the flute, the couple undergo the trials of fire and water and emerge triumphant. Papageno, disconsolate over his lost Papagena, threatens to hang himself. The Three Boys advise him to play his magic bells. Papagena appears and the happy couple rejoices and decides to have many children. The Queen of the Night, Monostatos, and the Three Ladies approach the Temple to destroy Sarastro and his followers, but they are rendered powerless and plunged into darkness. Good finally triumphs over evil. (Another picture of the CCOC:)
