The Magic Flute
Cast sheet
Sunday 12 October 2025
|
3pm
Exceptional philanthropic support from Royal Ballet and Opera Principal Julia Rausing Trust
Production generously supported by Veuve Clicquot
In partnership with Rolex, Principal Partner, The Royal Opera
Approximate timings
Music
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto
Emanuel Schikaneder
Conductor
Marie Jacquot
Director
David McVicar
Revival Director
Ruth Knight
Designer
John Macfarlane
Lighting designer
Paule Constable
Movement director
Leah Hausman
Revival Movement Director
Angelo Smimmo
Pamina
Lucy Crowe
replaces Julia Bullock
Tamino
Amitai Pati
Papageno
Huw Montague Rendall
Queen of the Night
Kathryn Lewek
Sarastro
Soloman Howard
Monostatos
Gerhard Siegel
Papagena
Marianna Hovanisyan
First Lady
Hannah Edmunds
Second Lady
Ellen Pearson
Third Lady
Emma Carrington
Speaker of the Temple
Matthew Rose
First Priest
Harry Nicoll
Second Priest
Wyn Pencarreg
First Man in Armour
Stuart Jackson
Second Man in Armour
Graeme Broadbent
Third Priest
Nigel Cliffe
First Child
Leo Ogungbemi
Second Child
Eos Groen
Third Child
Sophia Cullingford
Children
Emilia Rose, Svyatoslav Colotelo, Nico Smith, Keturah Arusiuka-Hill, Fleur Mauxion, Emilia Ostroumoff, Lara Rose Ostroumoff
Actors
Michael Barnes, Clare Barrett, Richard Gittins, Ángel Gutiérrez, Martin Harding, Anthony Kurt Gabel, Mai Matsuki, Jazz Morrison, Mette Nilsen, Belinda Roy, Bryony Tebbutt, Addis Williams, Corina Wuersch
Chorus
Royal Opera Chorus
Chorus Director
William Spaulding
Orchestra
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Concert Master
Sergey Levitin
Soprano
Susan Boyd
Tenor
James Geer
Bass
Simon Preece
Music preparation
Peggy Wu, Nick Fletcher, Richard Hetherington
Keyed Glockenspiel
Susanna Stranders
Assistant Directors
Simon Iorio, Harriet Taylor
Language Coach
Dominik Dengler
Patron
HM The King
Music Director
Jakub Hrůša
Director of Opera
Oliver Mears
Director of Casting
Peter Mario Katona
Associate Director
Netia Jones
Administrative Director
Cormac Simms
Synopsis
Tamino is pursued by a monstrous serpent and falls unconscious. Three Ladies slay the monster and decide to inform ...
Tamino is pursued by a monstrous serpent and falls unconscious. Three Ladies slay the monster and decide to inform their mistress, the Queen of the Night, of the Prince’s arrival. When Tamino wakes, Papageno the bird-catcher takes the credit for rescuing him. The Three Ladies punish Papageno’s lies by padlocking his mouth, and show Tamino a portrait of Pamina, the Queen’s daughter. On the Queen’s instructions, Tamino – who has fallen in love with Pamina - vows to rescue her from her evil captor, Sarastro. To protect Tamino and Papageno, the Three Ladies present them with a magic flute and magic bells, as the Three Children guide them on their way.
Papageno rescues Pamina from the lustful advances of Monostatos, and together they flee in search of Prince Tamino. At the Temple of Wisdom, the Speaker informs Tamino that Sarastro is a wise and noble ruler. Tamino plays his flute and strange animals gather around him, while Papageno’s magic bells prevent Monostatos from attacking him and Pamina again. Sarastro punishes Monostatos but informs Pamina and Tamino that they cannot be united until Tamino obtains wisdom.
To Papageno’s dismay, Tamino has decided to undergo the trials to enter Sarastro’s brotherhood. The Three Ladies attempt to persuade the Prince and the bird-catcher to break their vow of silence but are unsuccessful. The Queen of the Night orders Pamina to kill Sarastro, threatening to disown her if she doesn’t. Sarastro reassures Pamina that love, not evil, will triumph in his sacred halls. Pamina is heartbroken when Tamino – still observing his vow of silence – shuns her. Meanwhile Papageno’s magic bells summon an old woman who turns into the woman of his dreams – Papagena! – only for her to be taken away from him.
Pamina unites with Tamino for his final trial. Aided by the magic flute, they triumph and are welcomed into the brotherhood. Longing for Papagena, Papageno contemplates suicide, when he suddenly remembers his magic bells, and they are reunited. Sarastro banishes the Queen, her Ladies and Monostatos to infinite darkness. Day has defeated night, and everyone joins in a hymn of praise.
Further information
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