The Magic Flute, also known as Die Zauberflöte in German, is a famous opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was first performed in Vienna, Austria on September 30, 1791. The opera begins with a scene outside Queen of the Night's temple, where the prince Tamino is being chased by a serpent. After fainting, he is saved by three Ladies who work for the Queen. When Tamino wakes up, he meets Papageno, a birdcatcher who tells him he killed the serpent. The Ladies return and give Tamino a portrait of the Queen's daughter, Pamina, with whom Tamino falls in love at first sight.
The opera conductor and part-time Mozart scholar Myer Fredman once remarked on how oddly the plot of The Magic Flute unfolds. “An overture, then a dragon,” he notes, “three ‘cabaret’ ladies, a quasi-folk song, an intensely passionate invocation to a portrait, and a virtuoso tirade. Now follows a padlock, a magic flute, a magic glockenspiel and five singers who step out of character to talk directly to the audience.” And the heroine hasn’t even made her entrance yet! It’s no wonder audiences are confused. Added to this, there is the element of pantomime, the blend of comic and serious, and rapid scene changes (though one can find that in Shakespeare as well). The staging of The Magic Flute is notoriously difficult without making it look either farcical (overlooking the serious elements) or Wagnerian (overlooking the humor and wit).
And just a few months before The Magic Flute was staged, a rival troupe in Vienna staged a performance of Joachim Perinet s Kaspar the Bassoonist, or Die Zauberzither , which shares some similar plot lines with The Magic Flute and was similarly based on Liebeskind s stories. From its premiere in Vienna on 30 September 1791, The Magic Flute Die Zauberflöte , has been one of Mozart s most popular, and commercial successful, operas.
The Ladies return and give Tamino a portrait of the Queen's daughter, Pamina, with whom Tamino falls in love at first sight. The Queen then appears and tells Tamino that Pamina has been captured by Sarastro, a high priest and the Queen's enemy. The Queen entrusts Tamino with the task of rescuing Pamina, promising him her hand in marriage if he succeeds.
Mozart's 'Magic Flute': an animated plot summary
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Show me! Save Opening titles to Mozart's 'Magic Flute' animated video. MPR graphic/Nate RyanIn April 2014, Minnesota Opera presented a two-week run of The Magic Flute at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. But what is The Magic Flute all about? A new video from Classical MPR provides a plot summary of the iconic opera. The Magic Flute is a fairy tale, with themes of love and of good versus evil. The opera is divided into two acts. Act I Tamino, a prince, is alone in the woods, fleeing a deadly serpent. He faints but is saved by three ladies who are the attendants of the Queen of the Night. Tamino wakes up and hears someone coming: it's Papageno, a bird catcher. Tamino assumes that it was Papageno who saved him, and the two become friends. The three ladies return and explain that it was they who saved Tamino, and they give him a picture of Pamina, the Queen of the Night's daughter.
Tamino falls in love with the portrait, but is told that Pamina has been kidnapped by Sarastro, a high priest. Tamino vows to rescue Pamina. Hearing this, the Queen arrives and offers Tamino her daughter's hand in marriage if he is successful. To aid in their quest, Tamino is given a magic flute and Papageno is given a set of magic bells. Tamino and Papageno are led to Sarastro's temple by three spirits. Papageno scouts ahead; he finds Pamina and he reassures her that she will soon be rescued. Tamino sneaks into the temple and goes in search of Papageno and Pamina. They all run into Sarastro and his followers. It turns out Sarastro is kind and wise, and he insists that Tamino must undergo a series of tests to prove himself worthy of Pamina. Act II With the series of tests about to begin, Sarastro explains that he kidnapped Pamina from her evil mother, the Queen of the Night, because Tamino and Pamina are meant to be together. Papageno is also promised a wife if he successfully completes the trials. In preparation, they must remain silent — Tamino and Papageno are not allowed to speak. Meanwhile, The Queen appears before Pamina and tries to convince her to kill Sarastro. The Queen sings her famous aria, "Der Hölle Rache", which translates as "A hellish rage burns in my heart." But the Queen of the Night's efforts are in vain. Tamino and Pamina meet again, but because he is not allowed to speak, Pamina fears Tamino no longer loves her. The three spirits reassure Pamina that Tamino does indeed love her. Tamino declares he is ready to be tested, and — together with Pamina — faces the trials of water and fire; with the aid of the eponymous magic flute, they are successful. Papageno, meanwhile, plays his magic bells and his destined mate, Papagena, appears. He is filled with joy. Papageno and Papagena sing their signature duet, Allegro: "Pa- pa- pa- . ". The Queen of the Night is angered by everyone's love and success; she returns to destroy the temple . but she is cast out into the darkness forever. All is well, everyone is thankful, and they watch the sunrise together. And that is the story of The Magic Flute.
But other scholars claim that these plot peculiarities can be understood in terms of a larger universal story that untangles the complexities of façade and inner truth. In this interpretation, The Magic Flute is a sophisticated symbolic vehicle, a lesson in epistemology that represents a philosophical exercise commonly known in German as Sein und Schein (Reality and Appearance). It invites the viewer to look past first appearances, and examine the premises and assumptions on which those appearances are based. In other words, it takes the story much further than a mere fairy tale—where characters are “types” and the distinction between good and evil usually well-marked—and turns it into a more meaningful and profound allegory. Just as Tamino is forced to reconsider some of the allegations, innuendo, circumstantial evidence, rumor and other manifestations of apparent truth, the audience also takes part in this exercise, discovering the true Sein (Reality) beneath the deceptive Schein (or Appearance). This makes the first part of the opera an intentional deception, trying to convince Tamino that good is evil, and evil good. The second Act then pulls the curtain back and reveals the Truth that the Queen had hidden in the opera’s opening.
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Show me! Save Opening titles to Mozart's 'Magic Flute' animated video. MPR graphic/Nate RyanIn April 2014, Minnesota Opera presented a two-week run of The Magic Flute at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. But what is The Magic Flute all about? A new video from Classical MPR provides a plot summary of the iconic opera. The Magic Flute is a fairy tale, with themes of love and of good versus evil. The opera is divided into two acts. Act I Tamino, a prince, is alone in the woods, fleeing a deadly serpent. He faints but is saved by three ladies who are the attendants of the Queen of the Night. Tamino wakes up and hears someone coming: it's Papageno, a bird catcher. Tamino assumes that it was Papageno who saved him, and the two become friends. The three ladies return and explain that it was they who saved Tamino, and they give him a picture of Pamina, the Queen of the Night's daughter.
Tamino falls in love with the portrait, but is told that Pamina has been kidnapped by Sarastro, a high priest. Tamino vows to rescue Pamina. Hearing this, the Queen arrives and offers Tamino her daughter's hand in marriage if he is successful. To aid in their quest, Tamino is given a magic flute and Papageno is given a set of magic bells. Tamino and Papageno are led to Sarastro's temple by three spirits. Papageno scouts ahead; he finds Pamina and he reassures her that she will soon be rescued. Tamino sneaks into the temple and goes in search of Papageno and Pamina. They all run into Sarastro and his followers. It turns out Sarastro is kind and wise, and he insists that Tamino must undergo a series of tests to prove himself worthy of Pamina. Act II With the series of tests about to begin, Sarastro explains that he kidnapped Pamina from her evil mother, the Queen of the Night, because Tamino and Pamina are meant to be together. Papageno is also promised a wife if he successfully completes the trials. In preparation, they must remain silent — Tamino and Papageno are not allowed to speak. Meanwhile, The Queen appears before Pamina and tries to convince her to kill Sarastro. The Queen sings her famous aria, "Der Hölle Rache", which translates as "A hellish rage burns in my heart." But the Queen of the Night's efforts are in vain. Tamino and Pamina meet again, but because he is not allowed to speak, Pamina fears Tamino no longer loves her. The three spirits reassure Pamina that Tamino does indeed love her. Tamino declares he is ready to be tested, and — together with Pamina — faces the trials of water and fire; with the aid of the eponymous magic flute, they are successful. Papageno, meanwhile, plays his magic bells and his destined mate, Papagena, appears. He is filled with joy. Papageno and Papagena sing their signature duet, Allegro: "Pa- pa- pa- . ". The Queen of the Night is angered by everyone's love and success; she returns to destroy the temple . but she is cast out into the darkness forever. All is well, everyone is thankful, and they watch the sunrise together. And that is the story of The Magic Flute.
The Ladies then give Tamino a magic flute to protect him on his journey. Tamino and Papageno set off to find Pamina. Along the way, they face various trials and challenges, with Tamino relying on the power of the magic flute to overcome them. They learn that Sarastro is not the villain they were led to believe, but a wise and noble leader, and that the Queen of the Night is the true villain trying to undermine his authority. Tamino is tested by fire and water, symbolizing purification and transformation, before he is deemed worthy of joining the brotherhood led by Sarastro. Pamina, who has been living in Sarastro's palace, is also tested in her loyalty and love for Tamino. In the end, good triumphs over evil and the lovers are united. The Magic Flute is a light-hearted and fantastical opera that combines elements of myth, comedy, and symbolism. It explores themes of love, transformation, and the triumph of good over evil. Mozart's music is known for its beauty and complexity, reflecting the emotional journey of the characters. The opera has remained popular throughout the centuries and continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences worldwide..
Reviews for "The Magic Flute as a Political Statement: Enlightenment Ideas on Stage"
1. John - 2/5 - I was quite disappointed with "Beginning of the Magic Flute." While the set design and costumes were visually stunning, the overall production felt disjointed and lacked coherence. The pacing was slow, and the plot seemed to drag on. The singing performances were mediocre at best, with some of the lead actors struggling to hit the high notes. Overall, I found it difficult to connect with the characters and was left feeling underwhelmed by this rendition of a classic opera.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I regretted spending my money on "Beginning of the Magic Flute." The production had a confusing and convoluted storyline that failed to captivate the audience's attention. The acting was lackluster, and it seemed like the cast was just going through the motions. The musical arrangements and vocal performances were uninspiring, and I found it hard to stay engaged throughout the performance. The whole experience felt like a wasted opportunity to bring this beloved opera to life.
3. Robert - 2/5 - As an avid fan of opera, I was excited to see "Beginning of the Magic Flute," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The staging and set design were visually captivating, but the direction and execution left much to be desired. The pacing was uneven, and some scenes dragged on for too long. The singing was uneven, with some of the performers lacking the vocal prowess required for such a demanding production. Overall, I left the theater feeling underwhelmed and wishing for a more polished and engaging performance.
4. Emily - 2/5 - I found "Beginning of the Magic Flute" to be a disappointing rendition of a beloved classic. The production felt lackluster and failed to capture the magic and charm I had come to expect from this opera. The acting was subpar, with the cast struggling to bring depth and authenticity to their characters. Additionally, the set design and costumes felt outdated and did not enhance the overall experience. The music and singing were average, lacking the emotional depth that is characteristic of this opera. Overall, I would not recommend this production to those looking for a captivating and memorable performance.