Events Event Ten (Bethlehem, 9 April) Event Twelve (Ramallah, 10 April) Event Eighteen (Jerusalem, 13 April) Performers Sam West director Jamie Campbell leader Choir of London Orchestra Nicholas Collon conductor (9 and 10 April) Graham Ross conductor (13 April) cast Isabelle Adams 1st lady/1st boy/1st slave Cathy Bell 3rd lady/3rd boy/3rd slave Mary Bevan Pamina Alexander Cadden Monostatos Catherine Carter 2nd lady/2nd boy/2nd slave Allan Clayton Tamino Anne-Marie Cullum Queen of the Night/Papagena Sam Evans Sarastro George Humphreys Papageno The Magic Flute K. 620 A new production of Mozart’s most famous and best-loved opera, especially prepared for the 2007 Palestine Mozart Festival by leading British actor/director Sam West. With the generous support of Synopsis: Act one The scene is a rocky area, with mountains on either side of the stage and a temple. Pursued by a large serpent, young prince Tamino faints in terror. Three veiled Ladies, who emerge from a nearby temple, kill the monster with silver spears. Each then wishes to stay with the handsome young man while the others go for help, but since they cannot agree, all three go. On recovering, Tamino encounters the Queen’s birdcatcher, Papageno, who takes credit for killing the serpent. The Ladies return in time to hear his lie and punish him by locking his mouth with a golden padlock. They then give Tamino a portrait of Pamina, the Queen’s abducted daughter, with whom he immediately falls in love. The Queen of the Night herself now appears and tells Tamino that he has been chosen to save Pamina from her evil captor Sarastro, promising him her hand if he can set her free. On the Queen’s instructions, the Ladies remove Papageno’s padlock and tell him he is to be Tamino’s companion in his quest. They give to him a set of magic bells and to Tamino a magic flute to protect them in their adventure. The scene changes to a splendid Egyptian-style room in Sarastro’s palace, where the brutish Monostatos has Pamina put in chains, planning to force his intentions on her. Papageno enters, however, and frightens him away; then he takes Pamina off to find Tamino. The Prince, meanwhile, has been led by Three Boys to a grove in which stand three beautiful temples. Mysterious voices warn him away from entering either of the first two, and from the third temple the Priest emerges to challenge him. Confused by hints that he has been deceived by the Queen of the Night, but reassured by the unseen voices that Pamina is still alive, Tamino plays his flute to express his gratitude, attracting an audience of animals. Papageno and Pamina, trying to follow the sound of the flute, are caught and threatened by Monostatos, but the music of Papageno’s magic bells send him and his slaves dancing away. Sarastro now enters with his priests. He tells Pamina that he abducted her to remove her from her mother’s baleful influence. Monostatos has captured Tamino meanwhile, but is rewarded by Sarastro with a beating. Tamino and Papageno, whose heads have been covered, are then taken into the temple to prepare for initiation. Act two To the sounds of a stately march Sarastro and a band of priests emerge into a palm grove. There he asks his followers to allow the postulants to attempt the initiation trials, invoking divine protection for them. In the temple courtyard at night, Tamino and Papageno begin their trials. Warned not to speak and to beware of women’s wiles, they are confronted by the Three Ladies, who try to win them back to the Queen’s service. The terrified Papageno proves less resolute than Tamino at keeping silent. Sleeping in a moonlit garden, Pamina is menaced by the lecherous Monostatos, but the Queen of the Night appears and frightens him off. Learning that Tamino now intends to join the priests rather than opposing them, she gives Pamina a dagger and commands her to kill Sarastro. After she leaves, Monostatos tries again to overpower Pamina, but he is prevented this time by Sarastro. Pamina pleads for mercy for her mother, and Sarastro assures her that there is no room in his domain for revenge or hatred. Tamino and Papageno are reminded by priests of the necessity of silence, but Papageno is soon chattering away with an old woman who brings him water. She tells Papageno that he is her sweetheart, but is warned away by a clap of thunder before she can reveal her name. The Three Boys appear, bringing the two men a feast and their magic instruments. Pamina finds her way to them but is heart-broken when Tamino refuses to speak to her. Trumpets and trombones play the symbolic threefold chord, summoning the men to their next trial. Papageno is reluctant to leave his dinner, until Sarastro’s lions scare him off. The scene changes to a subterranean vault, where the priests, each carrying a transparent pyramid, invoke the gods in a beautiful three-part chorus, praying Tamino will withstand the trials and join the Brotherhood. Sarastro commends Tamino for his strength and prepares him for two further trials. Pamina is brought in for a sorrowful farewell. Lost in the temple, Papageno laments his lot. The Speaker tells him that although he deserves punishment, the gods are forgiving, but he will never achieve full initiation. Enjoying a large goblet of wine, Papageno longs for a mate. The old woman reappears and says that she is the chosen mate. Securing his unwilling pledge of loyalty, she turns into the young and pretty bird-girl Papagena, but the priest sends her away, saying that Papageno is not yet worthy of her. In the garden the Three Boys liken the rising sun to noble peace triumphing over ignorance. Pamina enters, frantic with grief, but is prevented from committing suicide by their assurance that Tamino still loves her despite his silence. Tamino is led to a desolate place surrounded by mountain peaks. He finds two men in full armour, their helmets topped with flames, guarding a gate. They sing a chorale, challenging him to complete the trials and join the Enlightened. Pamina fearlessly chooses to accompany him. Revealing that his magic flute was carved by her father, she takes Tamino’s hand and leads him through the gate. As he plays the flute, they pass unharmed through raging flames and rushing torrents. The priestly chorus rejoices in their success. Papageno, despairing of ever finding Papagena again, is dissuaded from hanging himself by the Three Boys, who remind him to use his magic bells. The sound restores her to him, and the two happily plan to raise a large family. The Queen of the Night, appearing with her Ladies, promises Pamina to Monostatos if he will help abduct her. As they prepare to storm the temple, a great rumble of thunder and rushing water arises, and the conspirators are swallowed up by the earth. The scene immediately changes to the dazzling temple of the sun, in which Sarastro and his priests welcome Tamino and Pamina. The final chorus gives thanks to Isis and Osiris for the victory of Beauty and Wisdom over the power of darkness. Programme note by Nick Jones. © Brilliant Classics Event%20Ten.htmlEvent%20Twelve.htmlEvent%20Eighteen.htmlSam%20West.htmlJamie%20Campbell.htmlChoir%20of%20London.htmlNicholas%20Collon.htmlGraham%20Ross.htmlIsabelle%20Adams.htmlCathy%20Bell.htmlMary%20Bevan.htmlAlexander%20Cadden.htmlCatherine%20Carter.htmlAllan%20Clayton.htmlAnne-Marie%20Cullum.htmlSamuel%20Evans.htmlGeorge%20Humphreys.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4shapeimage_1_link_5shapeimage_1_link_6shapeimage_1_link_7shapeimage_1_link_8shapeimage_1_link_9shapeimage_1_link_10shapeimage_1_link_11shapeimage_1_link_12shapeimage_1_link_13shapeimage_1_link_14shapeimage_1_link_15shapeimage_1_link_16
Mozart: The Magic Flute K. 620