SYNOPSIS
1. ACT
Prince Tamino flees from a snake. Terrified he loses his consciousness. Three ladies rescue him. They are fascinated how handsome he is and they decide to inform their mistress, the Queen of the Night, about him. As Tamino regains consciousness, he meets the bird-catcher Papageno, who claims to be Tamino's rescuer, when the three ladies return and accuse Papageno of lying. They then show Tamino a picture of Pamina, the Queen of Night's daughter who has been abducted by Sarastro. Tamino loses his heart to her and pledges to rescue Pamina.
The Queen of Night appears on the scene. She bemoans the loss of her daughter and promises her daughter's hand in marriage to the Prince should he succeed in rescuing her.
Papageno is ordered to accompany Tamino. The two also get equipped with two musical instruments: a flute for Tamino and a glockenspiel for Papageno. In addition three boys are appointed to show them the way.
Pamina tried to escape from Sarastro's realm, but was caught again by her guard, the moor Monostatos. Papageno's sudden appearance startles Monostatos and he flees immediately. Papageno recognizes Pamina as the Queen's daughter immediately and tells her about the prince Tamino.
Meanwhile the three boys show Tamino the way to the three gates that lead into Sarastro's realm. A priest approaches him and lectures him about Sarastro having done no harm. Tamino is, however, not yet to be granted the privilege of meeting Pamina. He starts to play his magic flute, whose sounds attract various animals, but can also be overheard by Papageno and Pamina. They are about to follow the sounds to get to Tamino, but Monostatos quickly steps in and takes them as prisoners.
Sarastro appears with his priests and the three prisoners are presented to him. Pamina and Tamino lay eyes on each other for the first time. Sarastro punishes Monostatos hard for his deed and decides that Tamino and Papageno are to be initiated into the circle of the chosen ones. For the time-being Pamina has to stay within Sarastro's reach.
2. ACT
In a meeting with his priests Sarastro convinces them to let Tamino and Papageno take the necessary examinations. In his speech he also hints at Tamino and Pamina being meant for each other.
Tamino and Papageno find themselves in complete darkness. After Papageno has been promised a wife, he is also ready to take the examination. The two accompanying priests order them to maintain absolute silence and particularly warn them about women.
The three ladies appear and are planning to save the prince from the dangers of that nightmarish place. The candidates, however, successfully master that first test by turning the ladies down.
Meanwhile, Monostatos tries again to approach Pamina, but the Queen of Night interrupts his advances and he flees again. The Queen then informs her daughter about the seven-fold sun circle that once belonged to her husband. Just before his death he intrusted Sarastro with the sun circle instead of his wife, because he believed that she as a woman was incapable to guard it. Her husband also ordered her to obey the men's instructions. To avenge herself for all that her husband did, the Queen now plans to convince Pamina to stab Sarastro to death with a dagger: When Pamina refuses, the Queen puts a curse on her own daughter and disappears. Again, Monostatos pursues Pamina with his advances. Sarastro enters the scene and tries in vain to calm Pamina down.
Tamino and Papageno are obliged to continue being silent until they hear the sound of the trombone. Ignoring their obligation, Papageno continues to chat along, when all of a sudden an old woman approaches him. Upon informing Papageno of being his lover, she disappears as suddenly as she arrived.
The three boys fetch some food and drink as well as the musical instruments. Whilst Papageno is feasting on the food, Pamina appears. Tamino ignores her and even Papageno does not talk to her. A grief-stricken Pamina leaves the scene again.
Now Sarastro arrives followed by his men. He brings Tamino and Pamina together for their last goodbye – or so he claims. Papageno is then taken away, as he has not yet proved himself good enough to receive the major orders. Sarastro and Tamino try to calm Pamina, who is beside herself with fear.
Again Papageno meets the old woman. At the precise moment when Papageno is prepared to declare himself, his eyes settle on the sight of a young Papagena near-by, but he cannot hold on to her.
They come across Pamina who is on the verge of committing suicide. At the very last moment, the three boys succeed to wrest the dagger out of her hand and to convince Pamina of Tamino's love for her.
Tamino is led to the fire and water trial by two men in arms. Pamina is asked to accompany him. She encourages him to play his magic flute and with that, they both pass that last examination.
Papageno is also determined to die. The three boys remind him of his glockenspiel. It has barely started to chime, when the young Papagena returns. They both are overjoyed by the thought of their forthcoming bliss of matrimony.
Meanwhile, the Queen of Night, the three ladies and Monostatos have arrived at Sarastro's palace. But their plans of vengeance fail.
Sarastro's priests hail fortitude's victory.