A fantastical opera for all the family 

Princess Pamina has been captured. Her mother, the Queen of the Night, tasks the young Prince Tamino with her daughter’s rescue. But when Tamino and his friendly sidekick, Papageno, embark on their adventure, they soon learn that when it comes to the quest for love, nothing is as it really seems. Guided by a magic flute, they encounter monsters, villains, and a mysterious brotherhood of men – but help, it turns out, comes when you least expect it. 

With the Queen of the Night’s showstopping arias, an Overture that fizzes with energy, Papageno’s catchy tunes and sublime melodies for Pamina and Tamino, the music of The Magic Flute leaves no heart uncharmed. Two starry casts include Julia Bullock and Lucy Crowe as Pamina, Amitai Pati and Mingjie Lei as Tamino, Huw Montague Rendall as Papageno, Kathryn Lewek and Annie Fassea as the Queen of the Night and Soloman Howard and Timo Riihonen as Sarastro, led by French conductor Marie Jacquot in her Covent Garden debut, and Finnegan Downie Dear. 

Performance history 

The Magic Flute was Mozart’s last opera before his untimely death at the age of 35. The premiere took place on September 30, 1791, not in a royal theatre, but the popular Vienna Theater auf der Wieden. The actor Emanuel Schikaneder wrote the libretto and played the role of Papageno. It was a huge success from the outset – although some of Mozart’s masonic colleagues were offended by the opera’s references to their customs: a closely guarded secret.  

A viral hit 

Mozart’s The Magic Flute features ‘Der Hölle Rache’ (‘The wrath of hell’) - the famous aria sung by the Queen of the Night to her daughter, Pamina. Do not be fooled by the major key: this is an aria that smoulders with fury, as the Queen threatens to disown her daughter if she refuses to kill her enemy, Sarastro. The aria is a masterclass in coloratura singing (fast-moving notes and virtuoso technique) reaching the stratospheric heights of F6. That’s three and a half octaves above middle C! Soprano Diana Damrau’s performance of the aria has racked up over 65 million views on our Youtube channel. 

Read the full synopsis

Act I

Tamino is pursued by a monstrous serpent and falls unconscious. Three Ladies slay the monster and decide to inform their mistress, the Queen of the Night, of the Prince’s arrival. When Tamino wakes, Papageno the bird-catcher takes the credit for rescuing him. The Three Ladies punish Papageno’s lies by padlocking his mouth, and show Tamino a portrait of Pamina, the Queen’s daughter. On the Queen’s instructions, Tamino – who has fallen in love with Pamina - vows to rescue her from her evil captor, Sarastro. To protect Tamino and Papageno, the Three Ladies present them with a magic flute and magic bells, as the Three Children guide them on their way.

Papageno rescues Pamina from the lustful advances of Monostatos, and together they flee in search of Prince Tamino. At the Temple of Wisdom, the Speaker informs Tamino that Sarastro is a wise and noble ruler. Tamino plays his flute and strange animals gather around him, while Papageno’s magic bells prevent Monostatos from attacking him and Pamina again. Sarastro punishes Monostatos but informs Pamina and Tamino that they cannot be united until Tamino obtains wisdom. 

Act II

To Papageno’s dismay, Tamino has decided to undergo the trials to enter Sarastro’s brotherhood. The Three Ladies attempt to persuade the Prince and the bird-catcher to break their vow of silence but are unsuccessful. The Queen of the Night orders Pamina to kill Sarastro, threatening to disown her if she doesn’t. Sarastro reassures Pamina that love, not evil, will triumph in his sacred halls. Pamina is heartbroken when Tamino – still observing his vow of silence – shuns her. Meanwhile Papageno’s magic bells summon an old woman who turns into the woman of his dreams – Papagena! – only for her to be taken away from him.

Pamina unites with Tamino for his final trial. Aided by the magic flute, they triumph and are welcomed into the brotherhood. Longing for Papagena, Papageno contemplates suicide, when he suddenly remembers his magic bells, and they are reunited. Sarastro banishes the Queen, her Ladies and Monostatos to infinite darkness. Day has defeated night, and everyone joins in a hymn of praise.