The Magic Flute (German title: Die Zauberflöte) is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with libretto in German by Emanuel Schikaneder. This opera is in the form of a singspiel, a popular form which included both sung numbers and spoken dialogue. Schikaneder was Mozart's lodge brother, and the first Papageno. The first production was in Vienna, 1791. Masonic influences in this opera are rife and numerous: Mozart himself was a Freemason. In the political climate of the times, Freemasonry was considered a dangerous organization.
The opera's melodies are highly familiar, and include the Papageno/Papagena duet and the coloratura aria, Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen ("The vengeance of Hell is in my heart"), often referred to as the "Queen of the Night" aria or "vengeance aria".
Sarastro, the wise priest of Isis, has taken Pamina to the temple for the humane purpose of releasing her from the influence of her mother, the Queen of the Night. The queen induces the young Prince Tamino to go in search of her daughter and free her from the power of Sarastro; Tamino accomplishes his end, but becomes the disciple of Sarastro, whose mildness and wisdom he has learned to admire. The prince and Pamina are united.