School of Music

The Magic Flute - 2006
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Act I - Scene 1 - Tamino enters, chased by a fierce serpent. He falls unconscious, but is saved by three Ladies who kill the serpent and are instantly infatuated with the handsome prince. They have trouble leaving his side, but when they do he awakes amazed to find the serpent dead. Papageno enters and introduces himself to the audience as a bird catcher (who himself is covered in feathers). When he tells Tamino the he was the one who killed the serpent the Ladies return and punish Papageno for this lie by sealing his mouth with a lock. They also present Tamino with a picture of Pamina, the daughter of the Queen of the Night. Tamino falls deeply in love with Pamina. The Ladies return to tell Tamino that Pamina has been abducted, and the powerful, magical Queen of the Night appears and pleads with Tamino to rescue her daughter. After her departure, the three Ladies return to remove the lock from Papageno's mouth, presenting Tamino with a magic flute and Papageno with magic bells to protect them on their quest. When the men ask how they are to find their way, the Ladies introduce them to the three Spirits who will act as their guide.


Act I - Scene 2 - Three slaves celebrate Pamina's escape from the evil Monastatos, and then lament that she has been recaptured. Monastatos enters dragging Pamina. Papageno enters, frightening Monastatos off. Papageno assures Pamina that she will soon be rescued by a handsome man who calls himself "Prince." Pamina assures Papageno that he too will find a spouse.

Steven Linville as Monastatos, Elizabeth Hartnett as Pamina, and Kyle Aberle as Papageno

Act I - Scene 3 - In the finale to Act I, Tamino is led by the three Spirits to three Temple Pyramids. Here he meets an elderly Priest from the Holy Order who tells Tamino that he has been mislead: Sarastro in not a tyrant, but the leader of those seeking truth. Being assured that Pamina is still alive, and hearing the sound of Papageno's pipes, he hurries off to find his love. Papageno and Pamina enter, searching for Tamino and trying to escape. Monastatos and his slaves then appear, but Papageno uses his magic chimes to enchant them and escape. Sarastro suddenly appears, suprising Pamina and Papageno, and Monastatos enters, having captured Tamino. Tamino and Pamina meet face to face and fall instantly in love. Sarastro announces that Tamino and Papageno must undergo the initiation rites for the Holy Order, and they are led off to begin their trials.

Act II - Scene 1 - The scene opens with a gathering of the Enlightened, and Sarastro seeks their consent to allow Tamino and Papageno to continue with their testing.

Johnfrancis Twomey as Sarastro

Act II - Scene 2 - Allowed to continue, Papageno and Tamino find themselves in a strange place. Their mentors tell them that their first test is not to speak to women. The three Ladies appear and attempt without success to get them to break their vow.

Act II - Scene 3 - While Pamina sleeps, Monastatos appears and sees a chance to steal a kiss, only to be chased off by Pamina's mother, the Queen of the Night. The Queen gives Pamina a knife and tells her that she is to kill Sarastro with it. After the Queen leaves, Monastatos, who has overheard the plot attempts to blackmail Pamina, but is again interrupted, this time by Sarastro who assures Pamina that he does not seek vengeance against her mother.

Act II - Scene 4 - Papageno and Tamino continue their trials. In spite of a small slip by Papageno in talking to an old hag (really Papagena in disguise) the three Spirits appear and reward them by bringing them food and returning Tamino's flute and Papagenos chimes. As they wait for the signal to continue, Pamina, drawn to the sound of Tamino's flute, comes rushing in. Tamino has sworn to remain silent, which Pamina misunderstands as being a sign that he no longer loves her. She leaves in despair.

Act II - Scene 5 - During a gathering of the Enlightened, Sarastro brings Pamina and Tamino together to say a "final farewell" before Tamino's ultimate test. While Sarastro means that this is the last time the couple will have to part, Pamina misunderstands thinking that this means they will never see one another again.

Act II - Scene 6 - Papageno is told that he has failed his test and cannot join the Enlightened. He explains that he does not care about "enlightenment," but just wants a glass of wine! As he drinks, he longs to meet his partner, the promised Papagena.

Elizabeth Hartnett as Pamina and Nick Nesbitt as Tamino

Act II - Scene 7 - The three Spirits come across Pamina. She is suicidal because she believes Tamino does not love her. The Spirits convince her that he does indeed love her, and Pamina is allowed to join Tamino in facing the final "fire and water" test. After successfully completing the test, the Enlightened welcome them into the Holy Temple.

Act II - Scene 8 - We now find Papageno in a suicidal mood, convinced that because he has failed the initiation he will never meet his mate. At the last moment, the three Spirits bring Papagena to him, and they sing a duet celebrating the joys of marital bliss.

Act II - Scene 9 - The penultimate scene finds the Queen, the Ladies, and Monastatos attempting to storm the Temple and take it by force. Their attempt fails and they are vanquished.

Act II - Scene 10 - Pamina and Tamino take their places at the head of the order of the Enlightened and live "happily ever after."

Click here for a full cast list.