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Act One

A prince, Tamino, is under attack by a monstrous serpent. He falls unconscious, but his life is saved by three Ladies, servants of the Queen of the Night, who destroy the creature. All three are attracted by Tamino and squabble over who will stay and watch over him. In the end they all leave to report what has happened to their Queen.

When Tamino revives he encounters Papageno, a bird-catcher employed by the Queen of the Night, who claims to have killed the serpent himself. The three Ladies punish this lie by putting a padlock on his mouth. They present Tamino with a picture of the Queen’s daughter, Pamina, with whom he instantly falls in love.

The Queen herself appears and tells Tamino that Pamina was stolen from her by her enemy, Sarastro. She urges Tamino to rescue Pamina and bring her home. He will be aided in this mission by Papageno and the two are given a magic flute and magic bells to help them. Three Boys will be their guides.

In Sarastro’s realm Pamina is being tormented by her captor, Monostatos, a servant of Sarastro. Monostatos is frightened off by the appearance of Papageno, who has become separated from Tamino. Papageno comforts Pamina and together they plan to escape.

Meanwhile Tamino, guided by the three Boys, has also made his way to Sarastro’s realm. Voices forbid him to enter by the first two entrances he tries, but when he asks after Pamina he is told that she is still alive. The Speaker emerges from a third entrance and tells Tamino that he has been deceived by the Queen of the Night. He claims that Sarastro is a force for good, not evil.

Tamino is puzzled by the Speaker’s words. He plays the flute he was given and discovers that its music has magical and transformative powers. Pamina and Papageno hear the sound of the flute, but when they try to follow it they are captured by Monostatos and his henchmen. The music of Papageno’s magic bells cast a spell over them, but he and Pamina immediately run into Sarastro and his followers, who now have Tamino in their power.

Pamina tells Sarastro the truth of what she has suffered. Tamino is brought in and he and Pamina see each other for the first time. Sarastro orders Monostatos to be punished for his treatment of Pamina, but he also separates the young lovers just as they have met. He invites Tamino and Papageno to join his community, but only after they have undergone trials of initiation.

INTERVAL

Act Two

Sarastro’s followers doubt the wisdom of introducing Tamino and Papageno into their community, but Sarastro convinces them of his purposes. The two men are led way, blind-folded, for their first test, which is to remain silent in darkness. The Three Ladies attempt to distract them from their vow

and return them to the Queen’s cause, but without success.

Pamina is asleep when she is again assaulted by Monostatos, but the Queen of the Night intervenes to protect her. Believing that Tamino is now in her enemy’s power, the Queen forces Pamina to take a dagger with which to kill Sarastro. Pamina refuses, but Monostatos has been listening and threatens to tell Sarastro that Pamina is planning his assassination if she will not give herself to him. Sarastro appears and Pamina tells him what has happened. He explains to her that membership of his community requires acceptance of a life free from vengeance.

Tamino and Papageno are still bound to silence. Breaking his vow, Papageno chats up a female member of the community. The Three Boys bring food and drink and return the two magic instruments to them. Pamina is brought to see Tamino. She cannot understand why he rebuffs her and refuses to speak to her. She can only conclude that he no longer loves her.

Tamino is congratulated on passing the test of silence, but Sarastro tells him that, although he will be permitted to see Pamina again, it may be for the last time. Papageno is excluded from the community, but points out that all he really wants from life is food to eat and a wife for companionship. Papageno catches a fleeting glimpse of just such a wife, but she is taken away from him and he is left alone.

In her despair, Pamina is driven to the brink of suicide, but the Three Boys prevent her and assure her that Tamino still loves her. They reunite her with Tamino and she accompanies him through the final trials – ordeals by fire and water. Protected by the power of the flute’s music and the strength of their mutual love, Pamina and Tamino pass through the trials unharmed and are invited to join Sarastro’s community.

Certain that true love and contentment will never be his, Papageno is ready to take his own life. The Three Boys appear and remind him about the magic bells. Their music brings Papagena back to him and the pair are united at last.

The Queen of the Night and the Three Ladies, now joined by Monostatos, mount a final assault on Sarastro’s realm. The power of the Sun overwhelms the forces of night. The community celebrates the triumph of the human spirit, mutual love and the power of art and the imagination to overcome repression and fear.