Mozart’s timeless fantasy opera, which has captivated audiences’ hearts since it was written. Prince Tamino joins forces with the bird-catcher Papageno on a quest to rescue Princess Pamina, who was kidnapped by a cruel sorcerer — according to her mother, the Queen of the Night, with her famous and impressive aria. Their path is filled with challenges, but in the end good will triumph — and so will love.
2026 – The performance is dedicated to the memory of our beloved Bracha & Shimshon Zelig 13.3
15.3.2026 – The première performance is in honor of Lizika, Ami & Teddy Sagy
Plot Summary
A dragon chases Prince Tamino, who faints from fear, but the Three Ladies of the Queen of the Night save him and kill the dragon. Admiring Tamino’s beauty, they rush off to inform their queen about the prince who has arrived in her realm. When Tamino awakens from his faint, Papageno, the bird-catcher, appears and falsely claims that he was the one who killed the dragon. The Ladies, having returned, punish Papageno for lying and tell Tamino about Princess Pamina. The Queen of the Night arrives and pleads with Tamino to rescue Pamina, her daughter, who has been taken captive by the high priest Sarastro. In return, she promises Tamino the princess’s hand in marriage
Tamino decides to embark on the rescue mission with Papageno. The Ladies give Tamino a magic flute and Papageno enchanted bells to help them on their journey, as well as assigning three boys to guide them to Sarastro’s temple.
Before long, Tamino and Papageno are separated. Papageno finds Pamina just as she is trying to escape from Monostatos, Sarastro’s servant. He tells her that he and Tamino have come to rescue her. Meanwhile, Tamino, near the gates of the temple, is informed by a priest that he should not trust the Queen of the Night and that Pamina is still alive. The magic of the flute helps him reach the gate and enter the temple.
Monostatos captures Papageno and Pamina as they try to flee, but Papageno’s bells enchant and subdue him. When Sarastro appears, Pamina explains that she tried to escape only because of Monostatos’s behavior. Tamino, who has also been caught by Monostatos, is brought in and finally meets Pamina. Monostatos is enraged by the sight of the lovers, but it is he whom Sarastro punishes. Tamino and Papageno are then led into the temple to undergo a series of trials.
Tamino and Papageno are about to face the trials. Tamino is willing to do anything to be with Pamina, while Papageno agrees to participate only after one of the priests promises him a partner of his own, Papagena. They begin with the first test: the trial of silence. The Three Ladies arrive and try to tempt Tamino and Papageno into speaking, but they resist. Elsewhere in the palace, the Queen of the Night suddenly appears and demands that Pamina kill Sarastro. Pamina refuses.
Tamino and Papageno continue the silence trial. Pamina, unaware that Tamino is forbidden to speak, believes he is deliberately avoiding her. In despair, she decides to end her life, but the three boys appear and return her to Tamino so she can join him for the remaining two trials: the trial of fire and the trial of water. With the help of the magic flute, they walk unharmed through fire and water.
Papageno, who has failed the trials, is despondent over his loneliness and decides to take his own life. But the boys return once more and remind him of the power of the magic bells. He plays them, and to his delight, Papagena appears. The two immediately begin planning a large family. The Queen of the Night and her Ladies join forces with Monostatos, who has turned against Sarastro, and together they attempt to destroy the temple. But they fail. Sarastro and his priests give thanks to the gods, and Tamino and Pamina celebrate their love.
Pamina
Pamina
Tamino
Tamino
Queen of the Night
Queen of the Night
Papageno
Papageno
Papagena
First Lady
Second Lady
Second Lady
Third Lady
Third Lady
Monostatos
Monostatos
Sarastro
Speaker
Speaker
Second Guard
Second Guard
Want to know more about the opera you’re going to see? Want to discover the secrets behind the scenes? Want to meet the artists after the performance? The Israeli Opera allows you to enhance your operatic experience with a variety of events before and after the performance.
An hour before each opera performance begins, a 30-minute introductory lecture is held in the auditorium. The lecture, given by representatives of the opera team, sometimes focuses on the opera and its historical background, sometimes on the musical aspects of the work, sometimes on the production itself, and allows viewers to receive additional information in preparation for watching the opera a short time before the performance begins.
The lecture begins one hour before the start of each opera performance.
Lecture length: 30 minutes.
Admission is free for opera ticket holders that day.
A pre-show lecture will be held about an hour before each show begins.
The performance is over. It’s already late. And yet the experience was exciting, challenging, moving. It’s time to meet some of the participants in an informal gathering. Come listen and share. Come ask questions. Come get to know the soloists up close. An extraordinary opportunity to get closer to the artists who just thrilled you on stage.
An Opera Talkback takes place at the end of the performance on the second level of the Opera House’s foyer.
Talkback duration: about half an hour.
The talkbacks take place several times during each production. Admission is free.
The talkbacks will take place immediately after the show on the following dates:
March 2026
