The Magic Flute

Can you hear that? It is a sound as high and sparkly as a star, sung by a mysterious queen. Now listen again. That is the happy whistle of a funny man dressed in feathers, like a bird. And that brave, hopeful song belongs to a prince setting off on a grand adventure. My world is full of enchanted forests, giant, slithering serpents, and secret temples where people test their courage. I am a place where a special flute can tame wild animals and a set of silver bells can make grumpy people dance with joy. It is a world of pure imagination, brought to life by beautiful voices and the soaring sound of an orchestra. I am not a book you read or a painting you see on a wall. I am a story told with music. I am the opera, The Magic Flute.

I came to life a very long time ago, thanks to two wonderful friends. A brilliant man named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote all of my beautiful, unforgettable music. Every note, from the Queen of the Night’s angry song to the sweet melody of the magic flute itself, came from his amazing mind. His friend, Emanuel Schikaneder, wrote all the words for my story and was also a fantastic actor. When I was first performed, he was the one who played the silly bird-catcher, Papageno, and made everyone laugh. My grand opening night was in a theater in a city called Vienna, Austria, on September 30th, 1791. On that night, the world first met Prince Tamino. He is sent by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter, the lovely Princess Pamina, from a wise man named Sarastro. The Queen gives Tamino a magic flute to protect him on his journey. But Tamino soon learns that things are not always as they seem. The Queen is not as good as she pretends to be, and Sarastro is not a villain after all. With his funny friend Papageno by his side, Tamino must face trials of fire and water to prove he is brave and true of heart.

For over two hundred years, my song has traveled through time, filling theaters all over the world with wonder. I am a special kind of opera called a 'Singspiel'. That is a big word that just means my characters both sing their feelings and talk like in a regular play. This makes my story exciting and easy to follow. Families have come to watch my adventures unfold for many, many years. Children gasp when the Queen of the Night sings her powerful, sky-high notes, they giggle at Papageno’s search for his own Papagena, and they cheer when Prince Tamino and Princess Pamina finally find each other. My music and my story remind everyone that even when things seem dark and scary, courage, friendship, and love are the most powerful magic of all. And that is a song that will never end.