DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE (THE MAGIC FLUTE) Opera in 2 acts Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Librettist: Emmanuel Schikaneder First performance: Freihaustheater, Vienna, 30 September 1791
THE MAGIC FLUTE premièred a couple of months before Mozart’s death. A mixture of Freemasonry and fairy story, it looks forward to the folksy Romanticism of Weber’s FREISCHÜTZ and the lofty beauty of Wagner. Tamino, a handsome prince, is rescued from a serpent by three ladies in the service of the Star-Blazing Queen. She asks him to rescue her daughter Pamina, whom the evil sorcerer Sarastro has kidnapped. Tamino and the birdcatcher Papageno set out, but learn that Sarastro is good and the Queen of the Night evil. Tamino and Pamina have passed through various trials and marry; the simple Papageno finds happiness with the bird-woman Papagena; and the Queen and her minions fall into darkness.
"Nur stille! stille! stille! ... Die Strahlen der Sonne" The Queen of the Night and her minions plot to destroy the temple of Sarastro, but they are flung into eternal darkness. Sarastro announces that the sun has triumphed over the powers of darkness, and all welcome a dawn of universal brotherhood.
Königin der Nacht (soprano): Lucia Popp Erste Dame (soprano): Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Zweite Dame (soprano): Christa Ludwig Dritte Dame (soprano): Marga Höffgen Monostatos (tenor): Gerhard Unger Sarastro (bass): Gottlob Frick Tamino (tenor): Nicolai Gedda Pamina (soprano): Gundula Janowitz Papageno (baritone): Walter Berry Sprecher (bass-baritone): Franz Crass Papagena (soprano): Ruth-Margret Pütz Zwei Geharnischten (tenor, bass): Karl Liebel, Franz Crass Erster Priester (tenor): Gerhard Unger Zweiter Priester (bass): Franz Crass 3 Knaben (treble, alto, mezzo-soprano): Agnes Giebel, Ana Reynolds, Josephine Veasey
Conductor: Otto Klemperer Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra London 1964
Watch videos with other singers performing Nur stille! stille!:
MOHR Nur stille! stille! stille! stille! Bald dringen wir in Tempel ein.
ALLE WEIBER Nur stille! stille! stille! stille! Bald dringen wir in Tempel ein.
MOHR Doch, Fürstinn, halte Wort! - Erfülle - Dein Kind muss meine Gattinn seyn.
KÖNIGINN Ich halte Wort; es ist mein Wille.
ALLE WEIBER Mein / Ihr Kind soll deine Gattin seyn.
Man hört dumpfen Donner, Geräusch von Wasser.
MOHR Doch still, ich höre schrecklich rauschen, Wie Donnerton und Wasserfall.
KÖNIGINN, DAMEN Ja, fürchterlich ist dieses Rauschen, Wie fernen Donners Wiederhall.
MOHR Nun sind sie in des Tempels Hallen:
ALLE Dort wollen wir sie überfallen, - Die Frömmler tilgen von der Erd Mit Feuersgluth und mächt'gem Schwert. Dir, grosse Königinn der Nacht, Sey unsrer Rache Opfer gebracht.
Man hört den stärksten Accord, Donner, Blitz, Sturm. Sogleich verwandelt sich das ganze Theater in eine Sonne. Sarastro steht erhöht; Tamino, Pamina, beyde in priesterlicher Kleidung. Neben ihnen die ägyptischen Priester auf beyden Seiten. Die drey Knaben halten Blumen.
MOHR, KÖNIGINN Zerschmettert, zernichtet ist unsere Macht, Wir alle gestürzet in ewige Nacht. sie versinken
English Libretto or Translation:
MONOSTATOS Just keep quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet! Soon we shall be making our way into the temple.
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT, THE THREE LADIES Just keep quiet, quiet, quiet, quiet! Soon we shall be making our way into the temple.
MONOSTATOS But, Sovereign Lady, keep your word! Fulfil ... Your daughter must be my wife.
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT I'll keep my word! It is my will. My daughter shall be your wife.
THE THREE LADIES Her child shall be your wife.
MONOSTATOS Quiet though! I hear a terrible roaring, like the sound of thunder and a waterfall.
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT, THE THREE LADIES Yes, this roaring is terrible, like the echo of distant thunder.
MONOSTATOS Now they are in the temple halls,
ALL There let us surprise them, wipe the bigots from the face of the earth with burning fire and strong sword.
THE THREE LADIES, MONOSTATOS To you, great Queen of the Night, we make our offering of vengeance!
thunder, lightning, tempest
ALL Our strength is shattered, destroyed, we are all plunged into eternal night!
They disappear.
Scene change. Temple of the Sun. Sarastro, Tamino and Pamina in priestly apparel, the priests and the three boys appear.