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The Magic Flute at Semperoper, Dresden

About the Event

Seize this opportunity at the beautiful Semperoper in Dresden to experience the breathtaking opear performance of Mozart's The Magic Flute.

The Magic Flute


The Magic Flute is a singspiel opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The premiere took place on 30 September 1971 at the Theater uaf der Wieden in Vienna, two months before the composer died. On the first impression, the Magic Flute seems as a comical fairytale opera where the good triumphs over the evil. But in fact, it is a deep philosophical work, influenced by Enlightenment ideas, that depicts the image of a fair state.

Act 1
In ancient times, in Egypt, this is an imaginary story. Prince Tamino is attacked by a big serpent. But, three ladies who are the servants of the Queen of the Night save him. Three ladies show him a portrait of the queen’s daughter, Pamina, and Tamino falls in love with her eventhough he has not even met her. The Queen of the Night promises her daughter to him, if he can rescue Pamina who is enslaved by the evil Sarastro. Tamino decides to rescue her, and is given a magic flute by the three lady servants. There is a man, Papageno who is a bird catcher. Incidentlly, he follows Tamino, and is also given magic bells by the ladies.
By the power of the magic flute and bells, Tamino finally gets to meet Pamina. They fall in love with each other immediately. In fact, Sarastro is not an evil man, but an high priest. He has protected Pamina from her mother who is filled with ambition to dominate the world.

Act 2
Sarastro imposes three tests on Tamino to get his lover, Pamina. The first test is “Silence.” When Tamino falls silent, Pamina who knows nothing feels sorrow, but they can endure this test. The scond test is “Fire,” and the third test is “Water.” They can overcome these tests through the power of the magic flute.
In addition, Papageno is also tested to get his unseen lover. Papageno is not able to endure the tedts. He can’t pass his tests. However, he can meet his lover, Papagen“a” through the power of the magic bells. Papageno falls in love with Papagena.
On the other hand, Pamina’s mother, the Queen of the Night is furious. She tries to break into the temple of Sarastro. But, she is hit by a thunderbolt, and goes to hell.
In the end, Sarastro blesses Tamino and Pamina for overcoming their tests.

Cast / Production

Conductor Gábor Káli
Staging, Set Design & Costume Design Achim Freyer
Lighting Design Gerd Budschigk
Choir Jörn Hinnerk Andresen
Dramaturgy Klaus‐Peter Kehr, Hans‐Georg Wegner

Sarastro Tilmann Rönnebeck
Königin der Nacht Christina Poulitsi
Pamina Margaux de Valensart
Tamino Martin Mitterrutzner
Papageno Bernhard Hansky
Erste Dame Ute Selbig
Zweite Dame Angela Liebold
Dritte Dame Christa Mayer
Monostatos Simeon Esper
Sprecher Martin‐Jan Nijhof
Erster Priester Mateusz Hoedt
Zweiter Priester Gerald Hupach
Erster Geharnischter Tom Martinsen
Zweiter Geharnischter Alexandros Stavrakakis
Erster Knabe Tölzer Knabenchor
Zweiter Knabe Tölzer Knabenchor
Dritter Knabe Tölzer Knabenchor

Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden
Staatskapelle Dresden

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