The Mozart favourite from the Met, produced by the director behind the acclaimed film Frida, Julie Taymor and conducted by James Levine

Director
Gary Halvorson

Producer
Julie Taymor

Choreographer
Mark Dendy

Performers
Tamino: Matthew Polenzani
First Lady: Wendy Bryn Harmer
Second Lady: Kate Lindsey
Third Lady : Tamara Mumford
Papageno: Nathan Gunn
Queen of the Night: Erika Miklosa
First Slave: Stephen Paynter
Second Slave: Kenneth Floyd
Third Slave: Gregory Cross
Monostatos: Greg Fedderly
Pamina: Ying Huang
First Spirit: Bennett Kosma
Second Spirit: Jesse Burnside Murray
Third Spirit: Jacob A Wade
Speaker: David Pittsinger
Sarastro: René Pape
First Priest: Brian Davis
Second Priest: Tony Stevenson
Papagena: Jennifer Aylmer
First Guard: Michael Myers
Second Guard: Robert Lloyd

The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
James Levine (conductor)
Raymond Hughes (Chorus master)
Michael Parloff (Flute solo)


The classic Mozart favourite from one of the world's most acclaimed opera houses, produced by the woman behind the acclaimed 2002 film, Frida - Julie Taymor.

Mozart's final opera is one of the most popular in the repertoire - a bizarre mixture of vaudeville, fantasy, Masonic symbolism and outstanding music, which ranges from the dazzling virtuosity of the Queen of the Night's aria to the engagingly silly pa-pahing of Papageno's serenade to Pagagena. It may have a notoriously complex plot involving the search for enlightenment and self-knowledge among other things, but The Magic Flute remains easily accessible and filled with so many glorious tunes that even the first-time opera-goer is captivated.


Synopsis
Three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night save the fainting Prince Tamino from a serpent (A serpent! A monster!). When they leave to tell the queen, the bird catcher Papageno bounces in and boasts to Tamino that it was he who killed the creature (I'm Papageno). The ladies return to give Tamino a portrait of the queen's daughter, Pamina, who they say is enslaved by the evil Sarastro, and they padlock Papageno's mouth for lying. Tamino falls in love with Pamina's face in the portrait (This portrait's beauty). The queen, appearing in a burst of thunder, is grieving over the loss of her daughter; she charges Tamino with Pamina's rescue (My fate is grief). The ladies give a magic flute to Tamino and silver bells to Papageno to ensure their safety, appointing three spirits to guide them (Hm! hm! hm! hm!).

Sarastro's slave Monostatos pursues Pamina (You will not dare escape) but is frightened away by the feather-covered Papageno, who tells Pamina that Tamino loves her and intends to save her. Led by the three spirits to the Temple of Sarastro, Tamino is advised by a high priest that it is the queen, not Sarastro, who is evil. Hearing that Pamina is safe, Tamino charms the animals with his flute, then rushes to follow the sound of Papageno's pipes. Monostatos and his cohorts chase Papageno and Pamina but are left helpless by Papageno's magic bells. Sarastro, entering in great ceremony (Long life to Sarastro), promises Pamina eventual freedom and punishes Monostatos. Pamina is enchanted by a glimpse of Tamino, who is led into the temple with Papageno. Sarastro tells his priests that Tamino will undergo initiation rites (O Isis and Osiris). Monostatos tries to kiss the sleeping Pamina (Men were born to be great lovers). He is discovered by the Queen of the Night, who dismisses him. She gives her daughter a dagger with which to murder Sarastro (Here in my heart, Hell's bitterness).

The weeping Pamina is confronted and consoled by Sarastro (Within our sacred temple). Tamino and Papageno are told by a priest that they must remain silent and refrain from eating, a vow that Papageno immediately breaks when he takes a glass of water from a flirtatious old lady. The old lady vanishes when he asks her name. The three spirits appear to guide Tamino through the rest of his journey and to tell Papageno to be quiet. Tamino remains silent even when Pamina appears, which breaks her heart since she cannot understand his reticence (Now my heart is filled with sadness). The priests inform Tamino that he has only two more trials to complete his initiation (Why, beloved, must we part?). Papageno longs for a cuddly wife but settles for the old lady. When he promises to be faithful she turns into a young Papagena but soon disappears.

After many dangers, Pamina and Tamino are reunited and face the ordeals of water and fire protected by the magic flute. Papageno is saved from attempted suicide by the spirits who remind him that if he uses his magic bells he will find true happiness. When he does, Papagena appears and the two plan for the future and move into a bird's nest (Pa-pa-pa). The Queen of the Night, her three ladies, and Monostatos attack the temple but are defeated and banished. Sarastro joins Pamina and Tamino as the people hail Isis, Osiris, and the triumph of courage, virtue, and wisdom.