Watch Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ Dec. 19
OPERA CLUB
The Opera Club invites everyone to a screening of the highly imaginative musical “The Magic Flute” on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 1:30 p.m. in the Learning Center of Clubhouse 3.
The 1791 opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart opera is based on the allegorical libretto of Emanuel Schikaneder, of which musicologists have been trying to decipher its meaning for over 200 years.
President Margaret Gillon will introduce this sing-spiel and tender an explanation for viewers to consider when listening to humanities’ greatestcomposer’s work with its mystical and spiritual undertones.
Act 1 introduces the heroic protagonist Tamino, who is being attacked by a monstrous snake but is rescued by three ladies-inwaiting to the Queen of the Night.
He is befriended by the Queen’s bird-catcher, Papageno, who initially takes credit for dispatching the snake, but who is swiftly brought to correct his false assertions.
Tamino is asked to rescue the Queen’s beautiful daughter, Pamina, who was snatched by a powerful man, Sarastro, intending to marry her. Tamino and Papageno get armed, strangely, with a magic flute and silver bells and set out to find and bring back the beautiful Pamina. No sooner than arriving in Sarastro’s compound, they find themselves in a religious cult where they are to be tested—in silence—under demanding conditions of fire and water, along with the threatening presence of Sarastro’s bodyguard, Monostatos.
Act 2 finds Tamino is to be judged by a panel of priests for his worthiness to marry the beautiful Pamina. However, Pamina is herself near despair because of Tamino’s vow of silence throughout his testing ordeal. She is sent a dangerous knife by her mother, the Queen of the Night, and told to kill Sarastro. Amid this tension, there is comic relief as the bird-catcher Papageno is confronted by a figure alleged to be his future wife. In any case, Tamino succeeds in aceing all his tests earning the right to claim Pamina as his bride, and his sidekick Papageno is rewarded with an adorable and attractive wife.
The production is in German with English subtitles. People are encouraged to wear masks indoors if desired.
No dues or fees are collected. For more information, contact President Margaret Gillon at MargaretGi@yahoo.com or 562-3703844.
