Act One

Pursued by a serpent, Prince Tamino collapses. Three Ladies, in the service of the Queen of the Night, kill the monster. They admire Tamino and fight over who will remain with him while the others fetch the Queen. Not being able to agree and not trusting the others, all three depart. Tamino wakes to see Papageno, who catches birds for the Queen. Papageno claims he killed the serpent which bring the Three Ladies back to put a lock on mouth for telling lies. They show Tamino a portrait of the Queen’s daughter, Pamina, and Tamino immediately falls in love. The Queen of the Night appears and asks that he rescue Pamina from the temple of the tyrant Sarastro, where she is held captive. Tamino agrees and is presented with a magic flute for protection. Papageno is again allowed to speak and ordered to accompany Tamino. He is given a set of magic bells and three Spirits are sent to guide their journey. At Sarastro’s temple, Monostatos, guarding Pamina, seeks to take advantage of her. Papageno enters, and both are startled. Papageno recognizes Pamina as the Queen’s daughter and tells her of the love of the young prince who has been sent to rescue her. She revels in being loved while. Papageno ruefully wishes to meet a girl for himself. Tamino reaches the temple but is barred. He has been deceived by the Queen.  Sarastro is not the evil person she described. Monostatos catches Pamina and Papageno but the despot and his henchmen are charmed by the magic bells and the capture fails. Sarastro finds Pamina who admits her attempt to flee, but only because of Monostatos’ advances. Sarastro proclaims there is still much for her to learn. Tamino and Pamina finally meet and fall completely in love.

Act Two

Sarastro announces Tamino’s willingness to undergo the trials that would allow him to enter the temple.. Papageno more reluctant, succumbs to the promise of a pretty wife, Papagena. The first test is silence, made difficult by the three Ladies. Monostatos pursues Pamina while the Queen berates her daughter. Pamina must kill Sarastro and recover the power or be disowned. Sarastro appears and forgives Pamina’s inclusion in the Queen’s plot. Tamino and Papageno continue to wait in silence. Pamina finds Tamino but his silence makes her fear his love has subsided. She considers taking her own life. She is stopped by the Spirits who take her to Tamino, who is about to undergo the trials of water and fire. Pamina and Tamino reaffirm their love, and she resolves to go through the ordeals with him. After losing Papagena, Papageno is about to hang himself, but is also saved by the Spirits and Papagena, with whom he plans a future with lots of offspring. Having gone over to the dark side, Monostatos leads the Queen and her Ladies in an assault on Sarastro, but they are vanquished in a storm. A new era of truth and light begins.