Lyric Opera 2021-2022 Issue 3 The Magic Flute

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 20 Additional support is provided by Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Production Circle. Lyric Opera of Chicago gratefully acknowledges the support of the Regenstein Foundation Mozart Endowed Chair in Memory of Ruth Regenstein. Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline,American Airlines. A Production of the Komische Oper Berlin. Co-Produced by Los Angeles Opera and Minnesota Opera. Production by Suzanne Andrade and Barrie Kosky.Animation by Paul Barritt. Concept by“1927”(Suzanne Andrade and Paul Barritt) and Barrie Kosky.Stage design and costumes by Esther Bialas. Set construction by Minnesota Opera. Costumes by the Los Angeles Opera Costume Shop.Additional costumes by Kang Zhang Tailors and Uber Costume. APPROXIMATE TIMINGS Act 1 1 hour, 5 minutes Intermission 25 minutes Act 2 1 hour, 10 minutes Total 2 hours, 40 minutes Act one In a dark forest, far away… As he flees from a monstrous serpent, Tamino is rescued at the last second by three ladies who serve the Queen of the Night. When he regains consciousness, the first person Tamino sees is Papageno, so Tamino believes him to be his rescuer. Papageno, a bird catcher in search of love, does nothing to dispel the misunderstanding. The three ladies punish Papageno for this lie by rendering him mute. They show Tamino a picture of Pamina, the Queen’s daughter. Tamino instantly falls in love. The Queen of the Night appears and tells Tamino about her daughter’s kidnapping at the hands of the evil Sarastro. Tamino eagerly agrees to her command that he rescue Pamina. The three ladies give Papageno back his voice and instruct him to accompany Tamino. As protection against danger, they give him a magic flute, while Papageno receives bells. The duo also is provided three guides to show Tamino and Papageno the way to Sarastro. Pamina is tormented by Sarastro’s slave Monostatos, but she is saved when Papageno wanders in, having become separated from Tamino. Both Papageno and Monostatos are frightened by one another’s strange appearance. Left alone with Pamina, Papageno announces that her rescuer Tamino will soon arrive. Papageno admits that his own search for love has sadly proved fruitless so far, and Pamina comforts him. The three guides lead Tamino to the gates of Sarastro’s domain. He learns that the Queen is really the evil one, and the good Sarastro was merely trying to spare Pamina from her mother’s dark influence. Overjoyed to learn that Pamina is still alive, Tamino plays on his magic flute, enchanting nature with his music. Papageno and Pamina try to flee, but they are caught by Monostatos and his helpers; Papageno’s magic bells soon defeat their pursuers. Sarastro and his retinue then enter upon the scene. Monostatos leads in Tamino, and Sarastro punishes Monostatos for tormenting Pamina. The long awaited encounter between Tamino and Pamina is all too brief; Sarastro orders that they must now face a series of trials. INTERMISSION PRODUCTION SPONSORS The Negaunee Foundation Nancy & Sanfred Koltun Liz Stiffel Gramma Fisher Foundation of Marshalltown, Iowa Mr. & Mrs. Dietrich M.Gross Randy L. & Melvin R.* Berlin *deceased Synopsis