The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) 21 years old

The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute opens with Prince Tamino being rescued from a serpent by Ladies in the employ of the Queen of the Night. Papageno the bird-catcher arrives and claims he killed the serpent, but the outraged Ladies padlock Papageno's mouth for his lie. They also show Tamino a portrait of Princess Pamina, the Queen's kidnapped daughter, and he immediately falls in love. Protected by a golden flute, he sets off with the bird-catcher Papageno to rescue Pamina from the clutches of the sorcerer Sarastro and a madcap adventure involving magicians, wild animals and very Masonic-like trials. Triumphing over all adversity, the lovers unite, as the forces of light banish the darkness and Papageno even finds a true love of his own. The internationally renowned Mozart interpreter Sir Colin Davis conducts the chorus and orchestra of the Royal Opera House and a glittering cast in David McVicar's 2003 production of the opera Mozart wrote in the final year of his life, recorded live at Covent Garden.

Credits

The Magic Flute Cast

Name Character
Diana Damrau She was 31, now 53 years old as Queen of the Night
Adrian Thompson as Monostatos
Dorothea Röschmann She was 35, now 57 years old as Pamina
Ailish Tynan She was 27, now 49 years old as Papagena
Simon Keenlyside He was 43, now 65 years old as Papageno
Yvonne Howard as Third Lady
Will Hartmann as Tamino
Franz-Josef Selig He was 40, now 62 years old as Sarastro
Thomas Allen He was 58, now 80 years old as Speaker of the Temple

The Magic Flute Crew

Name Department
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as Original Music Composer. He was 247 (35) years old when He died Sound
Sue Judd as Director. Directing
David McVicar as Director. He was 37 (now 58) years old Directing
Emanuel Schikaneder as Writer. He was 251 (61) years old when He died Writing
The Magic Flute poster
The Magic Flute (21 years)

  • Release day: Monday, January 27, 2003
  • Runtime: 185 minutes