Agathe Poupeney / OnP

Opera

The magic flute

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Opéra Bastille

from 17 September to 19 November 2022

3h05 with 1 interval

The magic flute

Opéra Bastille - from 17 September to 19 November 2022

Synopsis

In Die Zauberflöte, a prince from a far‑off land on a quest to liberate a princess meets a giant snake, a cocky bird‑seller, the Queen of the Night and a High Priest who imposes strange rites of passage. How does one approach Mozart’s last opera, first performed in Vienna in 1791, two months before the composer's death? As a fantastical tale for children, as the reflection of the masonic allegiance of Mozart and his librettist Schikaneder, or as an ardent meditation on human existence? The director Robert Carsen attempts to go beyond the libretto's simplistic opposition of good and evil, represented by Sarastro and the Queen of the Night, suggesting that each of them guides the young Tamino and Pamina on the path to wisdom. An optimistic reading that does not exclude the idea of death, described by Mozart in a letter to his father as “our best friend”.

Duration : 3h05 with 1 interval

Language : German

Surtitle : French / English

  • Opening

  • First part 70 min

  • Intermission 30 min

  • Second part 85 min

  • End

Show acts and characters

CHARACTERS

Tamino: In love with Pamina.
Papageno: Bird-catcher in the service of the Queen of the Night.
Sarastro: High Priest in the Temple of Wisdom.
La Reine de la Nuit: Pamina’s mother.
Pamina: The Queen of the Night’s daughter.
Monostatos: Sarastro’s servant.
Papagena: Promised to Papageno.
Les trois Dames: In the service of the Queen of the Night  

ACT I
Tamino is threatened by an enormous snake and falls unconscious. Three ladies appear and kill the snake. They discover the handsome young man and leave to inform the Queen of the Night. Tamino wakes up and meets Papageno, the Queen of the Night’s bird-catcher. When Papageno accepts credit for having killed the snake, the three ladies reappear and lock his mouth to punish him for lying. They show Tamino a picture of the Queen’s daughter Pamina, and he immediately falls in love with her. The Queen herself appears and begs Tamino to rescue her daughter from Sarastro, who has kidnapped her. The ladies now free Papageno, and give Tamino a magic flute and Papageno a set of magic bells to protect them, telling them that three boys will guide them on their journey. Within Sarastro’s walls, Monostatos is attempting to rape Pamina, but runs away when he is frightened by Papageno. The bird-catcher tells Pamina that Tamino has fallen in love with her and that they have come to her rescue. Pamina rejoices. She and Papageno both dream of finding someone to love. The three boys guide Tamino to Sarastro’s temple. A priest appears and warns Tamino that things may not be as they seem. Unknown voices inform Tamino that Pamina is still alive. Overjoyed, Tamino plays the magic flute and, hearing Papageno calling him, leaves in search of the latter and Pamina. It is Monostatos and his followers however who soon find them. As they are about to arrest them, Papageno plays his magic bells which render the attackers harmless. Sarastro appears and tells Pamina she is free to choose whom she will love, but not yet free to leave his realm. Monostatos drags in Tamino and demands a reward, but is punished instead. As Tamino and Pamina acknowledge their love, Sarastro orders the priests to take Tamino and Papageno into the temple for purification.

ACT II

The trials commence. The priests swear Tamino and Papageno to silence, which both prove able to maintain to varying degrees. Tamino even rejects the charms of the three ladies and successfully passes his first challenge. The Queen of the Night appears, instructing her daughter Pamina to kill Sarastro. Pamina resists. The three boys help Tamino and Papageno to pass the next challenge: Tamino, who has been ordered to stay silent, meets Pamina. She feels rejected by his refusal to speak to her. Sarastro praises Tamino for his steadfastness and summons the two lovers. But Pamina is in despair. The three boys come to the rescue and talk her out of killing herself, and now she wants to undergo the remaining challenges together with Tamino. Protected by their love for each other, they pass trials by water and by fire. Papageno eagerly awaits his reunion with Papagena, whom he has been allowed to meet despite his poor performance in the trials. Separated from her once again, he too contemplates suicide, only to be stopped by the three boys. His magic bells spirit Papagena into his company. Monastatos joins forces with the Queen of the Night and the three ladies. Together they launch one final attempt to test Pamina’s and Tamino’s love. At that moment Sarastro and the priests appear on the scene to announce the beginning of a new dawn and to welcome the newcomers amongst the initiated.

Artists

Singspiel in two acts (1791)


Creative team

Cast

Orchestre et Chœurs de l'Opéra national de Paris
Coproduction avec le Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden

Media

  • Fire in The Magic Flute

    Fire in The Magic Flute

    Read the article

  • Opera word for word – The Magic Flute

    Opera word for word – The Magic Flute

    Listen the podcast

  • Imaginary The Magic Flute

    Imaginary The Magic Flute

    Watch the video

  • Draw-me The Magic Flute

    Draw-me The Magic Flute

    Watch the video

© Elena Bauer / OnP

Fire in The Magic Flute

Read the article

A production remembered

04 min

Fire in The Magic Flute

By Alexis Mazaloubaud

In his production of The Magic Flute, first performed at the Paris Opera in 2014, Robert Carsen uses the seasons as a metaphor to develop the characters of this initiatory tale. He also works with the elements: as a result, the “Trial by Fire” which occurs at the beginning of Act II, takes on a particularly striking aspect. Alexis Mazaloubaud, responsible for special effects and pyrotechnics at the Opéra Bastille, talks about the conception of that scene.


The first time I worked on fire effects for Robert Carsen, it was in 2001 for the production of Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka: an immense flame six metres high and ten metres wide, with a soloist nearby, it was incredible! But the request he made to us almost fifteen years later for The Magic Flute represented another major challenge: we had to put in place two fire ramps measuring 13 and 15 metres for scarcely 90 seconds, which the two characters Pamina and Tamino could cross.

It is not customary for us to work on such large surfaces. Usually, we deal with smaller combustible elements, such as candles and torches. In this case, though, it took a considerable amount of time to find a suitable method. In the end, we designed ramps resembling metal pipes that had been cut lengthwise. We then placed a series of wicks impregnated with a flammable product inside them. These were then lit with a lighter located on either side of the ramps and ultimately extinguished by a mechanical suppression system.

We realised right away that it would be impossible for the singers to cross the flames in bare feet. So we came up with a specific solution: igniting the fire in two stages. First, on the wide lateral sections. Then, the central parts would burst into flames once the singers had crossed them, after moving from downstage to upstage. The two singers then would turn to face the audience from behind the two burning ramps.

To set this impressive effect in motion, four technicians were positioned on the sides and two under the stage of the central section in order to ignite and mechanically extinguish the two ramps. In reality, the rain which comes down at the end of the scene plays no part in extinguishing the flames! Incidentally, at Robert Carsen’s request, that rain is actually comprised of tiny glass beads.

Robert Carsen's production of “The Magic Flute”
Robert Carsen's production of “The Magic Flute” © Elena Bauer / OnP

Of course, safety is our top priority. There are always trained firefighters present in the wings. The numerous Chorus-members, wrapped in white sheets, are positioned close to the fire so they must keep at least one metre away from the flames. Even so, when they rise to step over the extinguished ramps a few small flames can sometimes remain which can be unnerving for them. When that happens, technicians in costume can come on stage with smothering cloths and be barely distinguishable from the other characters!

I returned to this production with a great deal of enthusiasm. Since I am in charge of special effects, I also get to use water, smoke and wind. With these four elements there is an infinite number of possibilities. This season, for The Snow Maiden for example, I will have to work on a number of large wooden fires positioned around the stage. As for Carmen, I will be ensuring that the Spanish flag truly flies…

Interviewed by Juliette Puaux

Opera word for word – The Magic Flute

Listen the podcast

Literary podcast evoking an opera and a stage director’s vision

01 min

Opera word for word – The Magic Flute

By Benoit Maubrey, Marion Mirande

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute in Robert Carsen's production, in the words of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ismail Kadaré et Friedrich Nietzsche. 
 

Copyright:

  • Mozart, Correspondance complète, Flammarion, 2011
  • Ismaïl Kadaré, Avril brisé, Fayard, 1982
  • Friedrich Nietzsche, Ainsi parlait Zarathoustra, (Traduit de l’allemand par Geneviève Bianquis), GF-Flammarion, 2006

Imaginary The Magic Flute

Watch the video

A repertoire work narrated in a visual poem born of popular culture

1:09 min

Imaginary The Magic Flute

By Marc de Pierrefeu

Draw-me The Magic Flute

Watch the video

Understand the plot in 1 minute

1:20 min

Draw-me The Magic Flute

By Octave

Mozart’s last opera can be seen as a marvellous tale for children or as an ardent meditation on human existence.

A prince from a far-off land on a quest to find a slightly suicidal princess encounters a giant snake and a swaggering bird catcher, the Queen of the Night and a mysterious High Priest imposing strange rites of passage…

Drawing inspiration from the words of the composer in a letter to his father, the director Robert Carsen provides an elegant and sober Magic Flute, a dark jewel that conquers Death and makes it “our best friend”, – a source of reassurance and consolation.

  • [EXTRAIT] THE MAGIC FLUTE by Mozart (Caroline Wettergreen & Pretty Yende)
  • [EXTRAIT] THE MAGIC FLUTE by Mozart (Pretty Yende & Mauro Peter)
  • [EXTRAIT] THE MAGIC FLUTE by Mozart (René Pape)
  • Vous connaissez LA FLUTE ENCHANTÉE de Mozart ?
  • [INTERVIEW] Robert Carsen about LA FLÛTE ENCHANTÉE
  • La Flûte enchantée (saison 22/23) - Mauro Peter (Wie Stark Ist Nicht Dein Zauberton)

  • La Flûte enchantée (saison 22/23) - Ouverture

  • La Flûte enchantée (saison 22/23) - Huw Montague Rendall (Ein Madchen Oder Weibchen)

  • La Flûte enchantée (saison 22/23) - Chœur (O Isis Und Osiris)

  • La Flûte enchantée (saison 22/23) - Pretty Yende et Huw Motague Rendall

Access and services

Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille

75012 Paris

Public transport

Underground Bastille (lignes 1, 5 et 8), Gare de Lyon (RER)

Bus 29, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91, N01, N02, N11, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Q-Park Opéra Bastille 34, rue de Lyon 75012 Paris

Book your parking spot
  • Cloakrooms

    Free cloakrooms are at your disposal. The comprehensive list of prohibited items is available here.

  • Bars

    Reservation of drinks and light refreshments for the intervals is possible online up to 24 hours prior to your visit, or at the bars before each performance.

  • Boutiques

    A selection of works items are available on our various boutiques: Online store and The Opéra Bastille Shop.

    LEARN MORE.

  • Last-minute tickets

    Special reduced rates for people under the age of 28, unemployed and seniors over 65 are available. 

    LEARN MORE.

  • Parking

    You can park your car at the Q-Park Opéra Bastille. It is located at 34 rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris. 

    BOOK YOUR PARKING PLACE.

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €35 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €70 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Opéra Bastille
  • Open 1h before performances and until performances end
  • Get in from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 40 01 17 82

Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille

75012 Paris

Public transport

Underground Bastille (lignes 1, 5 et 8), Gare de Lyon (RER)

Bus 29, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91, N01, N02, N11, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Q-Park Opéra Bastille 34, rue de Lyon 75012 Paris

Book your parking spot
  • Cloakrooms

    Free cloakrooms are at your disposal. The comprehensive list of prohibited items is available here.

  • Bars

    Reservation of drinks and light refreshments for the intervals is possible online up to 24 hours prior to your visit, or at the bars before each performance.

  • Boutiques

    A selection of works items are available on our various boutiques: Online store and The Opéra Bastille Shop.

    LEARN MORE.

  • Last-minute tickets

    Special reduced rates for people under the age of 28, unemployed and seniors over 65 are available. 

    LEARN MORE.

  • Parking

    You can park your car at the Q-Park Opéra Bastille. It is located at 34 rue de Lyon, 75012 Paris. 

    BOOK YOUR PARKING PLACE.

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €35 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €70 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Opéra Bastille
  • Open 1h before performances and until performances end
  • Get in from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 40 01 17 82

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