Die Zauberflöte

Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte—his last opera before his untimely death at age 35—is a remarkable
combination of musical and dramatic styles, from the earthly to the otherworldly. The story
begins as a magical rescue mission, a plot outline that would have been familiar to Viennese
audiences of the popular theater, but soon transforms into a fable of enlightenment and
humanity. With its program of inner development and illumination, Die Zauberflöte imagines
a world of peace, brotherhood, and love.

In his Met-debut staging, British director Simon McBurney lets loose a volley of theatrical
flourishes, incorporating projections, sound effects, and acrobatics to match the spectacle
and drama of Mozart’s fable. The orchestra is raised high enough to bring certain players
into the action in full view of the audience, allowing performers onstage to interact playfully
with musicians. Hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “the best production I’ve ever witnessed of
Mozart’s opera,” McBurney’s daring vision carries on the Met’s long tradition of memorable
productions of Die Zauberflöte, among them those designed by Marc Chagall, David Hockney,
and Julie Taymor, to convey the otherworldliness of its score.

This guide is intended to help your students appreciate the opera within the context of
18th-century politics, philosophy, and musical style. By studying Mozart’s musical invention
in a selection of arias from the opera, students will discover some of the elements that
make Die Zauberflöte not only a product of its age but also an enduring masterwork of the
operatic canon. The information on the following pages is designed to provide context, deepen
background knowledge, and enrich the overall experience of attending a final dress rehearsal
at the Metropolitan Opera.