The Magic Flute
Enter a world where things are not what they seem.
Mozart’s enchanting opera The Magic Flute takes us on the musical journey of a lifetime into another world – a world of mystery and manipulation where things are not what they seem.
Drawn into this magical kingdom, Prince Tamino encounters monsters, a bird-catcher, and an evil Queen and is swept away on his quest to rescue the beautiful princess.
Come with us into this secret world and experience the music and mystery of The Magic Flute.
An opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder
Translation by Jeremy Sams
Conductor: Tom Woods
Director: Linda Kitchen
Set & Costume Designer: Robin Rawstorne
Lighting Designer: Rob Peters
With the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra
SYNOPSIS
The 7-fold Disc of the Sun
It once belonged to the Queen of the Night but her husband left it to Sarastro in his will. Without it she has no power. Sarastro has also seemingly stolen Pamina, the Queen’s daughter. The Queen of the Night will use Pamina’s abduction to once more gain control of the mysterious 7-fold Disc of the Sun.
ACT 1 The Domain of the Queen of the Night
A young man finds himself sucked into a world of monsters and strange creatures. He is Tamino, a Prince and destined to be the chosen one to find and free Princess Pamina from the clutches of Sarastro. Her mother, the Queen of the Night and her 3 lady servants point Tamino in the right direction, along with the pipe-playing Papageno, who is also looking for his perfect mate. To help them in their task, they are given 3 presents, a Magic Flute, magic bells and 3 guides.
Prince Tamino and Papageno lose each other at the very beginning of their mission. Tamino finds the entrance chamber to Sarastro’s realm and is cross-examined by a representative of Sarastro. Papageno stumbles across Pamina who is attempting to escape the cruel jailer, known as Monostatos.
Meanwhile, Tamino, who has been confused by two differing opinions of Sarastro’s nature, (is he good or evil?), follows the sound of Papageno’s pipes. Papageno, now Pamina’s protector, uses his magic bells to disperse the threat of Monostatos’ foul slaves and Pamina and Papageno find themselves outside Sarastro’s temple. They are greeted by Sarastro and his followers. When Tamino is also rounded-up by the slaves, the meeting of these two pre-destined lovers is overshadowed by a joint sentence to captivity.
ACT 2 The Domain of Sarastro
Prince Tamino and Papageno now find themselves within a cult of Priests whose leader is Sarastro. The brother-hood debates the Prince’s ability to endure the sect’s psychological, spiritual and physical tests. They are placed in a trial chamber, where they are monitored by the Priests and armed men.
Pamina has been isolated in an independent chamber where she is visited 3 times. Her mother, the Queen of the Night, despatches Monostatos, who hovers to eaves-drop, and is again banished, this time by Sarastro. Pamina learns that her mother wishes Sarastro dead, because he controls the powerful 7-fold Disc of the Sun. The Queen gives her a knife to murder Sarastro but she is unable to carry out her mother’s demands. Finding herself alone and made to believe that Tamino no longer loves her, Pamina resolves to use the knife to kill herself.
Tamino rises to the challenging trials inflicted on him as he wishes to attain the enlightenment promised him by the Priests – an enlightenment embracing the union with his beloved Pamina. Tamino’s tests climax in the deathly Fire and Water Trials in which he is protected by the Magic Flute.
Papageno undergoes his own ordeal to reach his goal. His visitations from an old woman are not exactly fulfilling the promise he was guaranteed of the ideal wife. When his predicament finally jolts him into attempting suicide, the 3 Boys make one of several appearances as young knights in shining armour.
The Queen of the Night and her cronies, the 3 Ladies joined now by Monostatos, break into the temple causing mayhem. Their downfall brings an end to evil and the dawning of a new era.
Dates And Locations
- Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch - Tuesday 29th September 2009, 7.30pm
- Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch - Thursday 1st October 2009, 7.30pm
- Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch - Saturday 3rd October 2009, 7.30pm
- Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch - Tuesday 6th October 2009, 6.30pm
- Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch - Thursday 8th October 2009, 6.30pm
- Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch - Saturday 10th October 2009, 7.30pm
Reviews
2 October 2009
"Enter a World where things are not what they seem" - so goes Southern Opera's advertising catch-phrase for this new production of Mozart's The Magic Flute.
1 October 2009
There is no doubt that a story as weird as that of The Magic Flute lends itself to almost any kind of treatment.
29 September 2009
Director Linda Kitchen and her design team have created a Magic Flute for the 21st century. Robin Rawstorne designed the sets and costumes and Rob Peters the lighting and was also production manager.