The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ACT I INTRODUCTION TAMINO: Help! Help me or I’m doomed! I’m about to be devoured by this ravenous serpent! Oh my god! It’s getting closer! Aieee, Look out! Somebody help me! Anybody? Help! Shrivel, Monster; feel our power! Victory! Success! We did it! We’re heroes! He’s safe! He’s free!Thanks to our bravery! THREE WOMEN: A handsome youth, gentle and beautiful, I’ve never seen such a beautiful young man! Yes, you’re right, he’s gorgeous enough to paint! If I were to open my heart to love, It could only be for this beautiful boy. Quick, let’s go tell the Queen about him, Maybe this lovely man can give her some peace again. You go tell her. I’ll wait here. No no. You go, and I’ll keep an eye on him here. No way! I can look after him all by myself. I’m staying here. I’ll keep an eye on him. I’ll watch him by myself. I’ll look after him alone. I will! Me! Me! Should I go? I see! I see! That’s great! They want to stay with him alone. Oh no! No way! They want to stay with him alone. Oh no! No way! What wouldn’t I give to live with this young man! To have him completely to myself, But no one will go. There’s no way. So it’s best if I go,I go, I go. You, young lad, beautiful and loving, You, beloved youth, farewell! Until we meet again, You, young lad, beautiful and loving, You, beloved youth, farewell! Until we meet again, DIALOG: TAMINO: Where am I? Am I alive? How? That vile serpent. (hearing something) What’s that? No. 2 ARIA PAPAGENO: I’m the bird catcher, yes, that’s me, always merry. I’m known as Bird catcher to young and old in all the land. I set my decoys and whistle my birdcalls, So I can be happy and jolly, for all the birdies are mine. I’m the bird catcher, yes, that’s me, always merry. I’m known as Bird catcher to young and old in all the land. I wish I had a net for girls; I’d catch them by the dozen. I’d lock them in with me, and all the girls would be mine. If all the girls were mine alone, some I’d trade for high-grade sugar, then to the one I liked the best, I’d give all the sugar she wanted. Then she’d kiss me tenderly; we’d be husband and wife. She’d fall asleep in my arms, and I’d cradle her like a child. DIALOG: Tamino: Hello there! Papageno: Yes? Tamino: Tell me, my cheerful friend, Who are you? Papageno: Who am I? (Stupid question!) A human, like you. And who, I might ask, are you? Tamino: Then I might answer that I am of princely blood. Papageno: That’s over my head. Please explain so I can understand. Tamino: They call me Prince, because my father is a King, ruler of many countries and peoples. Thousands. Papageno: Thousands? Tamino: Indeed. And what do you do? Papageno: In trade. I catch birds for the Queen of the Night and her ladies, and in return they give me food and drink. Tamino: The Queen of the Night? Tell me, good friend: Have you seen this queen? Papageno: Seen the Queen of the night? Tamino: (Aside) This has to be the magnificent Queen my father talked about. Tamino: Are you the one who saved me from this awful snake. Papageno: Snake!? Tamino: How did you slay this monster? You are unarmed. Papageno: Unarmed? The strength of my hands is my armament! Tamino: So you strangled it? Papageno: Strangled! (Aside) I never knew I was such a hero. 3 women: Papageno. Tamino: Who are these ladies? Papageno: I can’t say exactly, because I don’t know. But I do know that every day they take my birds and give me wine and bread and fruit. Tamino: They are very beautiful. 3 women: Papageno. Papageno: (Whispers) Shh. Don’t let them hear us. Loudly You ask are they beautiful? I say, I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my life. (Whispers) That should keep them happy. 3 women: Papageno. Papageno: (Aside) What did I do wrong today? Here ladies. Look at the fine birds I’ve brought you! 1st woman: Today, for the first time, the Queen sends you pure, clear water instead of wine. 2nd woman: And instead of bread, she told me to give you this stone. Papageno: What? I should eat stone? 3rd woman: And instead of sweet figs, I have this lock for your mouth. 1st woman: Why has the Queen imposed such exquisite punishment?... 2nd woman: To make sure that you will never again lie to strangers. 3rd woman: and that you will never take credit for others’ brave deeds. 1st woman: Now tell us: did you kill this snake? Papageno: Shakes his head. 2nd woman: Then who did? Papageno: Shrugs his shoulders. 3rd woman: It was the three of us, young man, who set you free. The great Queen sends you a gift: This portrait is the image of her daughter. If you are moved by her features, then happiness, honor, and glory shall be yours. Goodbye. 2nd woman: Goodbye, Papageno:! No. 3 ARIA TAMINO: This portrait is incredibly beautiful. No one has ever seen such beauty. I feel this divine portrait filling my heart with new passion! I don’t know what to call it, but I feel it burning like fire. Could this possibly be love? Yes, yes! It can only be love. Love. Only love. I wish I could find her. I wish she were standing here now. If she were here, warm and pure, what would I do? I would hug her fervently, and she would be mine forever. DIALOG: 2nd woman: The Queen is ready to grant your wish. She says, 3rd woman: “If this Prince is as bold and valiant as he is tender, then my daughter is saved.” Tamino: Saved? What do you mean? Is she in danger? 1st woman: A powerful, evil man named Sarastro has abducted Pamina:. That is her name. Tamino: Pamina! Pamina. Kidnapped. In some evil man’s hands— maybe… at this very moment... I can’t stand to think of it. 3 women: Quiet, young man. Tamino: Tell me, ladies, where can this Sarastro be found? 1st woman: In a lush valley just beyond our mountains. He has a magnificent palace, but very carefully guarded. Tamino: Oh God, what was that? 1st woman: Our Queen is coming. (Thunder) 3 women: Here she comes. (Thunder) She’s here! No. 4 (scene 6) ARIA QUEEN OF THE NIGHT: You have nothing to fear, dear son, You are innocent, wise, and pious. A bold young man like you is exactly what is needed To ease an anxious mother’s heart. I am worried half to death about my missing daughter. All my joy has vanished since that villain abducted her. I can’t get her look of terror, her shocked expression, Her trembling shoulders, out of my mind. I keep hearing her sobbing, “Help me! Help me!” Her plea was in vain; I wasn’t strong enough to save her. You, yes, you will go and set her free. You will go to rescue my daughter! And you will be our victorious hero, So she will be yours forever. DIALOG: Tamino: Can what I have seen and heard be real? No. 5 (Scene 7) QUINTET The poor man can’t speak of punishment, if he’s lost his speech. I can’t do anything for you but complain because I’m powerless to help. SCENE 8 QUINTET The Queen pardons you. By her authority I release you. Now Papageno: may speak again? Yes, chatter away. But no more lies! I’ll never lie! Never, never, never! This lock will serve as a warning. If we could lock the mouths of all the liars, instead of hatred, slander, and cruelty, we would have love and brotherhood. Here, Prince, take this gift. It’s from our Queen. The magic flute will protect you, and sustain you through the greatest adversity. With it, you’ll have full power to transform human passions. The sorrowful will find joy. The lonely will find love. Oh! A flute like this is worth more than gold and crowns. When it plays, human joy and satisfaction flourish. Now, beautiful ladies, if I may, I’ll take my leave. You could leave, but the Queen has decided that you should stay with the Prince, go with him to Sarastro’s castle. Oh, no! Thank you very much! You’ve already told me how vicious he is. I’m sure Sarastro wouldn’t hesitate to pluck me, roast me, and feed me to the dogs. The Prince will protects you, only trust in him. And for that, you shall be his servant. To hell with the Prince. I value my life! In the end, I swear, he’ll steal away from me like a thief. Here, take this treasure, it’s for you. Oh! Oh! What is it? Listen to the little bells ringing. Can I play it? Certainly! Yes, of course. Silver bells, magic flutes—all required for your/our protection. Good bye! We have to go.Good bye! See you later. Now tell us, lovely ladies… How do we find this castle? Three young boys, beautiful and wise, will go with you.