【The Magic Flute】Synopsis, Character Map

I will rescue Pamina.

Why must I go through all this terrible trouble just to meet a pretty girl?

If you do not kill Sarastro, I will no longer be your mother. I will disown you forever!

I can’t do anything terrible.

Help me, please! I’m screwed!

Zu Hülfe! zu Hülfe! sonst bin ich verloren

Three ladies
(All together) It’s our power. We saved him.

Oh, he’s so cool.

Wow! Let’s show him to the queen. I’ll stay here with him.

No, no, I’ll stay. You all want to stay. Then let’s leave him here and the three of us will go to the queen.

Am I safe? Someone’s coming. Let’s hide.

Catching birds, that’s what I do! I’m cheerful and energetic. I would like to marry a pretty girl.

Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja

Who are you? I’m a prince from a faraway land.

I am a human being. I give the birds I catch to the Queen of the Night and the Three Ladies. They exchange the birds for food. That’s how I make my living.

So you killed that snake?

What the hell? Ugh, there’s a dead snake. Yeah, that’s right. I killed a snake with my bare hands. I am a powerful man.

Three ladies
Papageno! The Queen of the Night has given you this. Water instead of wine. A stone instead of sugar. Golden locks instead of figs. You know your punishment. You lied to him.

Three ladies
Young man. It was we who saved you. This is the painting of Pamina. If you are moved by it, you will find happiness and honor. Then we will leave for a while. Think it over, Papageno.

What a beautiful picture. My heart is on fire. Is this love? Yes, this is love.

Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön

Three ladies
Please be brave. The Queen of the Night says that you will save her daughter. Pamina, the Queen’s daughter, has been abducted by the Devil. She is being held captive in a carefully guarded castle near here.

I will save Pamina.

Three ladies
The Queen of the Night is here.

Do not be afraid, young man. You have a pure and beautiful heart. It is young people like you that comfort my heart.

O zitt’re nicht, mein lieber Sohn!

I am distressed. I am troubled because my daughter has been stolen. The villain has escaped. I can still see the scene before me. I want to rescue my daughter, but my strength is too weak. If you go to rescue my daughter, you will be her savior.

Zum Leiden bin ich auserkohren

Is what just happened a dream or an illusion?

Hm! hm! hm! hm!

I would like to help you, but I don’t have the strength.

Three ladies
Papageno. The Queen has forgiven you. Let us remove your locks. The Queen has a gift for the Prince. The magic flute will protect you.

Well, let’s get out of here.

Three ladies
Stop. You go with him.

No, thank you. You said Pamina was being held by a terrible man. I don’t want to go there.

Three ladies
The Prince will protect you. We will give Papageno a silver bell. The magic flute and the silver bell will protect you all.

How do I get to the castle where Pamina is being held captive?

Three ladies
Three child-spirits will lead you to the castle. Goodbye. I’ll see you again.

You have no kind heart. Just kill me.

Huh? Creepy guy.

Monostatos
You’re the weird one.

I’m an idiot for being surprised. There are black birds, so it’s only natural that there are black people. Oh, it’s a girl who looks just like her picture.

That’s me in the picture. Why are you here?

The Queen of the Night thought the Prince was trustworthy. The Prince saw you in your painting and decided to save you. I came here with him. But we couldn’t find you, so I came here before him. Come on, let’s go.

Wait, what if you are a bad person?

That’s terrible. If you were thinking about loving someone, you wouldn’t think like that.

That’s right. You’re a kind person.

I’m glad you said that, but I don’t have a girlfriend.

If a man can feel love, he has a tender heart. Come, let us experience the joy of love.

Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen

It is the role of the woman to share the radiance of love. Man and woman go hand in hand to enter God’s world.

Three child-spirits
Follow this path. Listen to our teachings. Calm your mind, be patient, and be silent.

Zum Ziele führt dich diese Bahn

Thank you, wise children. There are three gates. On the gate it says here is wisdom, work and art. Let’s go through this gate.

Speaker of the temple
Bold stranger, where are you going?

Wo willst du kühner Fremdling, hin?

I heard there are some bad people here. I’m here to rescue Pamina. I was asked to do this by a mother whose daughter was taken from her.

Speaker of the temple
You are wrong. But I must be silent. I can’t say more now.

Is Pamina safe?

Speaker of the temple
She’s fine.

Pamina is safe! Let us make a sound to honor you, oh gods.

What a magical flute sound. The animals will rejoice to hear it. But Pamina is not here.

Wie stark ist nicht dein Zauberton

Papageno got to see Pamina!

Pamina and Papageno
Let’s hurry. If we don’t see Tamino soon, they’ll get us.

Schnelle Füsse, rascher Muth

It’s the sound of Tamino’s flute! We’ll see him soon.

Let’s ring the silver bell!

Pamina and Papageno
If a respectable man could find the silver bell, he would easily have no enemies. And in the best peace, he will live without enemies.

Sarastro is coming.

I am afraid. I just want to run away.

All
Long live Sarastro. It is to him that we surrender ourselves with joy. May he enjoy his life as a wise man forever.

Es lebe Sarastro!

I have sinned. I have tried to escape your power. But I’m not guilty. I only wanted to escape from the black man who wooed me.

Stand up. You are in love with a man. I won’t force you to love, but I can’t set you free.

Monostatos
I caught the suspicious man who had snuck in.

You must be Tamino! How wonderful!

We meet at last!

Take Monostatos with you. Slap the soles of his feet 77 times. I must punish him.

Now lead them to the temple of our ordeal.

The gods have decided that Pamina and Tamino should be united. As they did when I separated Pamina from her haughty mother, so the gods have decided. Tamino will overcome ordeals and become a man who will protect our temples of wisdom, rewarding virtue and punishing vice.

Speaker of the temple
Will Tamino be able to survive the ordeal? He’s a prince. He can’t do it, can he?

He is a prince, but he is a human. He can survive the ordeal because he is a human. Even if Tamino doesn’t survive the ordeal, he gets to the gods before we do.

God of Isis and Osiris. Watch over the young couple.

O Isis und Osiris schenket

Papageno, are you near me?

Of course I’m here. I’m very frightened!

Priest
Young man. The ordeal you face is deadly, but are you ready for it? You can turn back now.

I am willing to go through any ordeal to get Pamina. Even if it means risking my life!

Priest
Are you ready for the ordeal? We have a beautiful lady for you. Her name is Papagena.

I won’t do it! But, Papagena… I’ll try.

The two priests
You will be put to the ordeal of silence.

Protect yourselves from the wiles of women. Even the wise can be deceived. In the end you will be forsaken, and death and despair await you.

Bewahret euch vor Weibertücken

Three ladies
What’s going on? You are in danger in this terrible place. Let’s get out of here. Don’t believe those men’s crap.

Are we in danger?

Don’t talk. Silence.

Priest
You overcame the ordeal of silence. You have overcome the temptation with determination and manhood. Now let’s move on to the next ordeal.

Why do I have to go through all this terrible trouble to meet a pretty girl?

Monostatos
Anyone can be happy when they fall in love. It’s hell to be without a woman forever. I want to kiss her. Moon, please stay hidden. If you can’t, close your eyes.s.

Alles fühlt der Liebe Freuden

Go away!

What has happened to the man I sent here? If this continues, the relationship between mother and child will be severed.

He is led by people who serve the gods. I’m sad to see you go. I would go anywhere if you would protect me.

I already have no power to protect you. Since my husband passed away, my power is gone. Your late father said he would leave his personal treasures to me and you. But I gave the most important one, the power of the sun, to Sarastro.

Sarastro is an honorable man.

Pick up the dagger. You must kill Sarastro and take the power of the sun.

Hell’s vengeance boils in my heart, death and despair burn around me! If you do not kill Sarastro, I will no longer be your mother. I will disown you forever!

Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen

I can’t do anything terrible.

Monostatos
I can do it for you. You and your mother will be spared, right? But on one condition. You must love me.

My heart belongs to Tamino.

Monostatos
Then I’ll kill you!

I would punish you, but this dagger is here because Pamina’s mother is an evil person. The Queen of the Night is to blame. Therefore, I will not punish you. Leave!

Monostatos
In that case, I’ll side with her mother.

Please forgive my mother. She seems to be having a hard time since I’ve been away.

I know. We don’t need revenge, we need love. The gods will give the young man strength and courage. And you will join him.

There is no vengeful heart in this sacred temple. Even if someone goes astray, we will guide him with love.

In diesen heil’gen Hallen

Priest
You are to be silent. If you break the silence, there will be thunder. At the sound of the trumpet, you may leave the hall.

If I had stayed in the forest, I could have listened to the birds.

Shh!

If it’s just me talking to myself, no problem, right? I’m thirsty! They won’t give me a drop of water here.

Old lady, can I have some water? You’re very hospitable. Here, sit down. How old are you? Do you have a boyfriend?

Old woman
I am 18 years old and my boyfriend is 10 years older than me. His name is Papageno. He’s here.

What is your name?

I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t say a word.

Three child-spirits
Tamino, Papageno. We have met again. We have come to see you because Sarastro has asked us to return the magic flute and the silver bell.

Seyd uns zum zweytenmal willkommen

Tamino, don’t you want some? It’s very tasty.

I heard a sound and was led here. Why do you look so sad when I finally meet you? Why don’t you say anything to me?

Aah! (signaling for her to leave)

Papageno, tell me. What’s wrong with Tamino?

Mmm-hmm. (Puts food in his mouth and signals for her to leave.)

I know. Love is gone, isn’t it? The joy of love will never return. Tamino, look at me. These tears are for you.

Ach ich fühls, es ist verschwunden

Tamino, even I can keep my mouth shut.

That’s our cue. I’ll be right there.

(Signal to follow me.)

The priests
Oh God of Isis and Osiris, what a joy.

O Isis und Osiris, welche Wonne!

Throughout the ordeal so far, you have remained manly and silent. From now on you must continue on the dangerous path of asceticism. Finally, you must greet Pamina.

My beloved, will I ever see you again?

Soll ich dich, Theurer! nicht mehr seh’n?

Please believe me. I feel the same way you do. I will survive this ordeal and meet you.

Tamino, where are you? Don’t leave me! Where the devil am I? Oh, I shouldn’t have come here.

Speaker of the temple
Had I not come, you would have been condemned to wander the dark lands forever. The gods have forgiven you.

It’s okay. There are a lot of people like me in the world. Now I want a glass of wine.

Speaker of the temple
All right. Wine.

The wine is good, I am happy. I’ll ring the silver bell.

The only thing I want is a lover or a wife. I would be happy if I had a woman by my side who was kind to me. But there are so many beautiful girls, and no one will love me.

Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen wünscht Papageno sich!

Old woman
Swear to me that the two of you will live together. If you don’t decide soon, you’ll be here for the rest of your life!

I promise. Until I find a pretty girl.

Speaker of the temple
Papagena, go back. It’s too soon. Papageno. If you don’t withdraw, you will be punished.

I’d rather be punished than back down. Whoa!

Three child-spirits
Soon the sun that heralds the morning will light the golden path. Dark superstitions will fade away, and soon the wise will triumph.

Bald prangt, den Morgen zu verkünden

Pamina is going insane with grief.

(Looking at the dagger) So you are my bridegroom. You will end my suffering. It’s better to die than to suffer for love.

Three child-spirits
Don’t do it. He loves you. Let’s go to Tamino.

Let’s go through the ordeal together. A woman who is not afraid of the night and death is worthy of our world.

I’ll go with you. You have to blow the magic flute. The flute belonged to my late father. The sound of the flute will protect us.

Papagena, I want to see her. There is no answer from her. It’s hopeless. Someone stop me before I hang myself. Let’s count. One, two, three. But no one will stop me. Enough is enough!

Papagena! Papagena!

Three child-spirits
Stop it. Ring the silver bell.

That’s right! Let’s ring the silver bell.

Papageno and Papagena.
Pa, pa, pa. What a joy. God gives us beautiful children. Little Papageno. Little Papagena.

It’s the best feeling. Little children playing with their parents. The parents feel the same joy as the children. They are happy to see a child who looks like them. What could be happier than that?

Pa… pa… pa…

Monostatos
The temple is here. Let’s sneak in quietly. Don’t forget your promise to me.

I am a woman of my word. Pamina is yours.

Three ladies
May your vengeance be served.

Our power is broken. We shall sink into the eternal night.

The sun had banished the night and shattered its power.

All
Hail to the purified. We thank you, God of Osiris, God of Isis. May beauty and wisdom shine like an eternal crown.

Heil sey euch Geweihten!