MAGIC FLUTE: Mozarts opera is in two acts, set in an unspecified time and place. As ACT ONE opens, we see a young prince, Tamino, running for his life from a terrifying serpent. Hes rescued by three ladies who serve the local ruler — the Queen of the Night. They go off to tell the Queen about the young stranger theyve encountered. WHOS WHO?!!? Marlis Petersen .......... Pamina Daniel Behle .............. Tamino Anna-Kristiina Kaapola ..... Queen of the Night Daniel Schmutzhard ..... Papageno Marcos Fink .............. Sarastro Sunhae Im ................. Papagena Kurt Azesberger .... Monostatos Academy of Ancient Music Rene Jacobs, conductor Tamino falls asleep, and wakes up to meet Papageno — a funny-looking man dressed in colorful feathers and playing the panpipes. Papageno says hes the Queens bird catcher. The two characters have virtually nothing in common. When Papageno simply describes himself as a man, Tamino is skeptical. Still, the two quickly develop a bond. After Tamino and Papageno finish sizing each other up, the ladies return and show Tamino a picture of Pamina, the Queen of the Nights daughter. Tamino takes one look and falls in love. But Pamina has been captured by Sarastro, the Queens arch enemy, who is described as an evil fiend. When the Queen of the Night arrives in person, with her signature clap of thunder, she asks Tamino to rescue her daughter. She gives him a flute with magic powers, and sends Papageno along to help, with a magic instrument of his own — a set of chimes. The scene changes to the realm of Sarastro, where Pamina is being held. Shes alone with the treacherous Monostatos, who seems intent on raping her. Just then, Papageno wanders in. He and Monostatos scare each other half to death, and Monostatos runs off. Papageno leaves with Pamina, to look for Tamino. Meanwhile, three mysterious young boys have guided Tamino to a temple with three doors. One of them, marked Wisdom, opens to reveal the Temple of the Orator. Tamino asks about Pamina, and the Orator tells him that shes still alive. But to find her, Tamino must first join the temples holy order. Tamino plays his magic flute, and in response he hears Papagenos panpipes. Papageno appears with Pamina, and theyre both running from Monostatos. Hes about to catch them when the mighty Sarastro appears. He reprimands Monostatos for his evil designs on Pamina, and Monastatos slinks off. Sarastro then offers Pamina and Tamino the chance to be together. But first, he says, they must endure rituals of purification, and theyre led into the temple. ACT TWO begins near a temple thats surrounded by palm trees. After a brief processional, Sarastro and his priests say that Tamino will be permitted to undergo the trials required to join their brotherhood. He will then be allowed to marry Pamina. Papageno also wants a wife, and may also undergo the trials, though hes more than a bit reluctant. Meanwhile, Pamina endures trials of her own. She again has to escape the rapacious Monostatos. She must also refuse her own mothers order that, to restore their familys power, she must murder Sarastro. (This command from the Queen of the Night is delivered in one of Mozarts most famous arias — complete with four high F-naturals that seem to defy gravity, not to mention vocal chords.) To top it off, Pamina is falsely led to believe that Tamino has rejected her. At one point shes on the brink of suicide, but is rescued by the three boys. By the end of the opera, both Pamina and Tamino have faced trials of fire and water, and have survived them together. Papageno finally earns a wife — his female namesake, Papagena. She turns out to be a real peach, though she first appears to Papageno as a wrinkled hag who claims to be only eighteen years and two minutes old. The Queen of the Night and her ladies make a desperate attempt to bring down Sarastros temple, but theyre defeated amidst frightening storms and the Queen vanishes into darkness. As the opera ends, Sarastros mysterious but apparently benevolent order has prevailed, granting all power to beauty and wisdom. https://youtube/watch?v=et27CpqBvBE
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 00:42:06 +0000
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