Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute)

Mozart's last opera is "The Magic Flute". Whereas he dies in poverty, the opera is very successful and gains a lot of money for his friend, the libretto writer. It is a German opera in nature, in which beyond the apparent innocence of the text there are many symbols only member of the "Free Masons" can understand. It is filled with emotion, humor and wisdom, and Goethe was so impressed with it he offered to write it a second part (a "sequel" opera).

The story begins as the servants of the Queen of the Night save Tamino's life. He becomes acquainted with Papageno, a flutist who catches birds for the Queen of the Night in return for food and drink. The queen hires Tamino to rescue her daughter, Pamina, from the evil sorcerer Sarastro, priest of Isis and Osiris. She promises that if he succeeds in retrieving Pamina, he will get her hand in marriage. He receives a magic flute from the servant girls and Papageno is joined for the mission.

In the shrine of logic and wisdom Tamino gets to know the high priest Sarastro, and finds out he is a wise, noble man, contrary to what the Queen of the Night described. Tamino hears Papageno charming the animals with his magic flute. Pamina, trying to escape, is caught and begs for her life to Sarastro. Missing her mother and being pestered by Sarastro's assistant made her escape possible, she says. Sarastro warns her that only evil will come of her mother, the Queen of the Night. Monostatos enters with the imprisoned Tamino, and he and Pamina fall in love with each other at first sight. Sarastro rebukes his assistant, Monostatos, and demands that Tamino and Papageno are prepared for the purity trial (the trials of fire and water) they must pass, before accomplishing their mission.

Tamino and Papageno will now undergo a series of tests, in the course of which Pamina thinks Tamino does not love her, and Papageno wins his own girl (Papagena). Eventually, Tamino wins his beloved Pamina, after they pass through the cave of fire and water, thanks to the melody of Papageno's flute. Monostatos is with them, too, since the Queen of the Night promised him her daughter's hand. But a lightning storm strikes them and the earth opens its belly and swallows the conspirators. Inside the shrine, Pamina, Tamino and Sarastro thanks the gods, Isis and Osiris, for their help, and for their own happiness.