Mozart’s *The Magic Flute* in a chamber music arrangement

This programme, lasting around 70 minutes without an interval, presents the most famous scenes from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera *The Magic Flute* (K. 620) in a rarely performed arrangement for string quartet dating from 1800, the arranger of which is unknown. Alongside the overture, the opera’s best-known arias and ensemble pieces are performed in a condensed, chamber-music style.

The music is complemented by Mathias Kleiböhmer’s humorous and informative narration, which brings the opera’s background, characters and plot to life. Mozart’s *The Magic Flute*, which premiered in 1791 just a few months before his death, uniquely combines fairy-tale elements, mysticism and humanity. Between light and darkness, love and trials, the idealistic Prince Tamino and the down-to-earth bird-catcher Papageno meet on an adventurous journey. The opera combines serious and comic elements, a connection to the people and philosophical depth – and remains one of the most popular works in the history of music to this day.

Programme:
Overture
Help! Help!
The Bird-Catcher
This portrait is enchantingly beautiful
You lovely little dove
For men who feel love
This path leads you to your goal
How powerful is your enchanting tone
It sounds so marvellous
March of the Priests
O Isis and Osiris
Beware of women’s wiles
All feel the joys of love
Hell’s vengeance
In these hallowed halls
Alas, I feel it has vanished
Shall I never see you again, my dear?
A girl or a woman