Features: EVELYN LEAR / LISA OTTO / ROBERTA PETERS / FRANZ CRASS / DIETRICH FISCHER-DIESKAU / FRITZ WUNDERLICH

"The Magic Flute" is a fairy tale, and at the same time a parable. It takes us into the realms of heaven and hell, and in a colorful succession of contrasting pictures shows us the human being standing between the two—irrespective of whether he strives for a modest share of worldly happiness or for a deep perception of truth. While demoniacal forces of darkness are personified in the vengeful Queen of Night and her three ladies, a pure radiancy of light shines on the nobility of we high priest Sarastro. His realm is the Temple of "wisdom in which the ethical laws of freemasonry are observed. (Both Mozart and his librettist Schikaneder were familiar with these ideals, as they were themselves freemasons.) On a high level of human maturity stands Tamino, whose nobility of soul leads him along die appointed road towards perfection and protects him against temptation, while Pamina—who, as daughter of die Queen of Night, had her origins in the realm of darkness—is purified by love to become worthy of him.
As companion in die trials which he must undergo Tamino has the happy-go-lucky birdcatcher Papageno. For him, however, an exalted goal is unattainable. He is devoted wholeheartedly to the primivite pleasures of life, and always succumbs to the temptations which lie in his path. Eventually, therefore, they have to go different ways, but in die end Papageno, too, finds an attainable goal: worldly happiness with a wife like himself, and the hope or many little Papa-genos and Papagenas.
Protected by three genii, Tamino and Pamina have withstood their severe trials. They have gone through fire and water, and Sarascro has declared diem to be worthy to eater into die Temple of 'wisdom. The powers of evil—the Queen of Night with her ladies and the villainous Moor Monostatos—attempt to obtain their re-venge by a deed of violence, and to seize power for themselves, but they are shattered, and cast down into everlasting night. The power of light has overcome die darkness! A fairy-tale subject full of fantasy, which takes on its profound meaning only through Mozart's incomparable music. From die elements of solemnity and rich humour, high drama and tender lyricism his genius created an imperishable work of complete homogeneity and mastery—a symbol of pure truth.