Sublime fairy tale featured in Metropolitan Opera showing

Whitefish Theatre Company and the Whitefish Performing Arts Center are co-presenting the final live on-screen performance of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD 2022-2023 season.

One of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s most celebrated pieces of music, “Die Zauberflöte” will be shown on Saturday, June 3 at 10:55 a.m. at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.

The approximate run time is 3 hours and 10 minutes, including one 30-minute intermission. Tickets are sold only at the door which will open at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students, paid by cash or check only. Call 406-862-5371 to inquire about 10 student scholarships.

Sung in German with subtitles, “Die Zauberflöte,” or “The Magic Flute,” is a sublime fairy tale about the search for goodness, enlightenment, and truth. It is technically not an opera at all, but a singspiel play that features spoken dialogue as well as traditional operatic singing, much like American musical theater. In Act 1, Prince Tamino is rescued from a serpent by the Three Ladies of the Queen of the Night while the Queen’s birdcatcher, Papageno, tries to take the credit. As a punishment for lying, the Ladies padlock his mouth. They then give Tamino a painting of the Queen's abducted daughter, Pamina. Falling instantly in love with her image, he sets out to rescue her. The Queen promises that if he succeeds with the help of Papageno, she will agree to their marriage. Introducing them to three spirit guides who must help them on their journey, Tamino is given a magic flute, Papageno some magic bells, and together they journey to priest Sarastro's palace, where Pamina is being held. Papageno's blundering arrival inadvertently saves Pamina from being attacked by Monostatos, a servant of Sarastro. Papageno and Pamina leave in search of Tamino, who has arrived at Sarastro’s temple only to learn that it is the Queen who is evil and not Sarastro after all. Papageno and Pamina are confronted by Monostatos and his slaves, but, using the bells, they manage to escape. Pamina and Tamino finally meet, and immediately fall in love.

In Act 2, Sarastro declares Tamino must undergo certain sacred trials, beginning with a period of silence, to become a member of the Temple and therefore worthy of Pamina. Papageno must join him and will be rewarded with a girlfriend of his own. Meanwhile, while Pamina sleeps, Monostatos again approaches but is warded off by the Queen, who gives her daughter a dagger and tells her that she can only regain her power if Sarastro is killed, horrifying Pamina. Monostatos hears the entire plan and attempts to bribe Pamina into accepting his love when Sarastro enters to set things right. He knows of the Queen's plans but reminds Monostatos that the brotherhood is bound by love and forgiveness. Guided by the three spirits, Papageno is given a fleeting glimpse of his ideal mate, Papagena, but is warned that he will be denied her if he fails in his trials. Pamina is taken to Tamino and together they undergo trials by fire and water, passing through safely with the help of the magic flute. despite his failure to maintain silence, Papageno is also united with Papagena with the help of the magic bells. Furious, the Queen tries to break into the temple of Sarastro but is struck by a thunderbolt and sent to hell with the Three Ladies and Monostatos. In the end, Sarastro blesses Tamino and Pamina for overcoming their tests and the cast celebrates the victory of light over darkness.

The brilliant cast includes soprano Erin Morley as Pamina, tenor Lawrence Brownlee as Tamino, baritone Thomas Oliemans in his Met debut as Papageno, soprano Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night, tenor Brenton Ryan as Monostatos, and bass Stephen Milling as Sarastro. Nathalie Stutzmann conducts the Met Orchestra, with the pit raised to make the musicians visible to the audience and allow interaction with the cast. Renowned English director Simon McBurney makes his Met staging debut, mixing projections, physical comedy, sound effects, and acrobatics to match the spectacle and drama of Mozart’s fable.

Food and beverage will be available for purchase during the performance. Please go to www.whitefishtheatreco.org to read about the entire Met Opera Live in HD season or call 406-862-5371 for more information.