Mozart’s Magic Flute can possibly be described as the classical opera buffa equivalent to a modern adventure movie like Indiana Jones. The hero Tamino is undertaking a mysterious quest to rescue lovely lady Pamina. Will he succeed?
Rescue Pamina!
The Magic Flute is set in ancient Egypt. The Queen of the Night sends young Prince Tamino out to rescue her daughter Pamina from the evil High Priest of Isis, Sarastro. At the start of Tamino’s and Papageno’s quest Sarastro seems to be the villain, in the end it will turn out to be exactly the opposite way. Sarastro has taken Pamina to be raised in a place of goodness, away from her mother’s evil influence.
Tamino and Papageno
Tamino agrees to fulfill the order of the Queen and sets out with bird catcher Papageno to rescue the Queen’s daughter. The Queen gives Tamino a magic flute and Papageno a peal of bells to be played in times of danger. Tamino and Papageno arrive at the temple of Isis, where they indeed do rescue Pamina - not from Sarastro, but from an evil slave.
Tamino’s Quest
High Priest Sarastro, seeing that Tamino and Pamina are already in love, promises them happiness if they are willing under ordeals to purify their young hearts. The couple agrees and together they conquer all of their ordeals with the help of the magic flute. The magic of the flute is that is turns all anger into kindness. The Queen of the Night is thwarted. In the end even the rather cowardly Papageno finds surprisingly his future wife, Papagena. Princess Pamina and Tamino are united, conquering evil and darkness with their goodness.
Related
- The Freemason Opera - Mozart has been a member of the Freemason Lodge. The Magic Flute (german: “Die Zauberflöte”) is widely regarded as a tribute to the Masons. It is full of hints and symbolic deceits, relating to the symbols and ideas of the lodge.