The Magic Flute

DIE ZAUBERFLOeTE



In two acts by MOZART.



Text by SCHIKANEDER.





This last opera of Mozart's, written only a few months before his

death, approaches so near to perfection, that one almost feels in it

the motion of the spirit-wings which were so soon alas! to bear

away Mozart's genius from earth, too early by far, for he died at the

age of 35, having acco plished in this short space of time more than

other great composers in a long life.



The Magic Flute is one of the most remarkable operas known on the

stage. It is half fictitious, half allegorical.--The text, done by the

old stage-director Schikaneder was long mistaken for a fiction without

any common sense, but Mozart saw deeper, else he would not have adapted

his wonderful music to it.--It is true that the tales of old Egypt are

mixed up in a curious manner with modern freemasonry, but nobody,

except a superficial observer, could fail to catch a deep moral sense

in the naive rhymes.



The contents of the opera are the following: Prince Tamino, a youth as

valiant as he is noble and virtuous, is implored by the Queen of Night,

to save her daughter, whom the old and sage High-priest Sarastro has

taken from her by force. The bereaved mother pours forth her woe in

heart-melting sounds and promises everything to the rescuer of her

child. Tamino is filled with ardent desire to serve her.--On his way

he meets the gay Papageno, who at once agrees to share the Prince's

adventures. Papageno is the gay element in the opera; always cheerful

and in high spirits, his ever-ready tongue plays him many a funny

trick. So we see him once with a lock on his mouth by way of

punishment for his idle prating. As he promises never to tell a lie

any more, the lock is taken away by the three Ladies of the Queen

of Night. Those Ladies present Tamino with a golden flute, giving at

the same time an instrument made with little silver bells to Papageno,

both of which are to help them in times of danger. The Queen of Night

even sends with them three boy-angels. These are to point out to them

the ways and means by which they may attain their purpose.



Now the young and beautiful Princess Pamina is pursued by declarations

of love from a negro-servant of Sarastro. Papageno comes to her

rescue, frightening the negro Monostatos with his feathery dress.

Papageno, on the other hand fears the negro on account of his

blackness, believing him to be the devil in person. Papageno escapes

with Pamina, but the negro overtakes him with his servants. Then

Papageno shakes his bells, and lo, all forgetting their wrath forthwith

begin to dance.



Meanwhile Tamino reaches 'Sarastro's castle, and at once asks for the

High-priest, poor Pamina's bitter enemy. The Under-priests do not

allow him to enter, but explain that their Master Sarastro is as good

as he is sage, and that he always acts for the best. They assure

Tamino, that the Princess lives and is in no danger. Full of thanks,

the Prince begins to play on his flute; and just then he hears

Papageno's bells. At this juncture Sarastro appears, the wise Master,

before whom they al bow. He punishes the wicked negro; but Tamino and

his Pamina are not to be united without first having given ample proof

of their love and constancy. Tamino determines to undergo

whatever trials may await him, but the Queen of Night, knowing all,

sends her three Ladies, to deter Tamino and his comrade from their

purpose. But all temptation is gallantly set aside; they have given a

promise to Sarastro which they will keep.



Even the Queen of Night herself is unable to weaken their strength of

purpose; temptations of every kind overtake them, but Tamino remains

firm. He is finally initiated into the mysteries of the goddess Isis.



In the interval Pamina deems Tamino faithless. She would fain die, but

the three celestial youths console her, by assuring her that Tamino's

love is true, and that he passes through the most severe trials solely

on her behalf.



On hearing this Pamina at once asks to share in the trials, and so they

walk together through fire and water, protected by the golden flute, as

well as by their courage and constancy. They come out purified and

happy.



Papageno, having lost his companion, has grown quite melancholy and

longs for the little wife, that was promised to him and shown to him

only for a few moments. He resolves at last to end his life by hanging

himself, when the celestial youths appear, reminding him of his bells.

He begins to shake them, and Papagena appears in feathery dress, the

very counter-part of himself. All might now be well, were it not that

the Queen of Night, a somewhat unreasonable lady, broods vengeance.

She accepts the negro Monostatos as her avenger, and promises to

give him her daughter. But already Sarastro has done his work; Tamino

is united to his Pamina, and before the sunny light of truth everything

else vanishes and sinks back into night.