W.A. Mozart's
The Magic Flute
Book & Lyrics by Emanuel Schikaneder
Translation by Andrew Porter

Feb. 20, 21, 27 & 28 and Mar. 5 & 6, 2004 at 8pm
Feb. 22 & Mar. 7, 2004 at 2pm

Directed by Deborah Niezgoda
Music Directed by Catherine Huntress-Reeve


By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., sole agent in the USA and Canada for Faber Music Ltd., London, publisher and copyright owner.

Cast

Tamino - Harv Wileman
First Lady - Meghan Williams
Second Lady - Rachael Goldman
Third Lady - Shirley Santilhano Bunn
Papageno - Michael Galizia
Queen of the Night - Denise Young
Monostatos - Shawn Perry
Pamina - Alicia Oliver
First Spirit - Trish Wileman
Second Spirit - Lacie Koppelman
Third Spirit - Amy Rauch
Sarastro - Vladimir Ekzarkhov
First Priest - Joe Sorge
Second Priest - George Hunter
Spokesman - Blair Eig
Papagena - Jennifer Spitulnik
Armoured Men - Bill Gribben, Richard Wilmer
Slaves - Gina Nowacki, Debbie Peetz, Rusty Suter

Chorus
Gaye Freese, Tom Fuchs, Jennifer Gavin, Tom Goode,
Richard Garbutt, Anne Gribben, Ralph Johnson, Tom Lane,
Samantha Lint, Andrew Loosemore, Maureen Roult,
Julie Stevens, Sarah Weiss, Willie Weiss, Emily Wilkinson

Orchestra

Violin - Steve Natrella*, David Friedlander, Rachel Jayson, Otto Willim, Carolyn Larson, Andrew Nixon, Edwin Schneider
Viola - Amanda Laudwein, Sylvia Kniel, Victor Ontiveros
Cello - Sheryl Friedlander, Thurston Griggs, Rachel Jayson
Bass - David Ross
Flute - Jackie Miller, Louise Hill
Oboe - Lori Guess, Mary Haser
Clarinet - James Bensinger, Laura Bomhoeft, Laura Langbein
Bassoon - Brett Louis, Jim Lessig
Horn - Kristen Zempolich, Lora Katz
Trumpet - Tom Nixon, Curt Anstine, Bernie Rappaport
Trombone - Alan Potter, Steve Ward, Bill Frieze
Percussion - Janet Lynn Thompson
Keyboards (Bells) - Jenny Craley Bland, Deborah Jacobson

*Concert Master

Production Staff

Producer - Lisa Freese
Artistic Director - Rosalie Santilhano
Assistant Music Director - Deborah Jacobson
Stage Manager - Ira Haber
Assistant Stage Manager - Kiersten Drumm
Lighting Designer - Don Slater
Lighting Assistant - Ira Haber
Set Designer - B. Keith Ryder
Costumer Designer - Denise Young
Costumer Construction - Gaye Freese, Jennifer Gavin, Donna Jaffe, Maureen Roult
Master Carpenter - Dave Kaysen
Technical Director (Rockville Civic Center) - Kim Haug
Running Crew - Ray Caren, Tony Dwyer, Dave Kaysen, William Kolodrubetz
Rehearsal Pianists - Elizabeth Benefiel, Jenny Craley Bland,  Deborah Jacobson
Make-Up & Hair Designer - Renee Silverstone
Make-Up & Hair Assistant - Stan Sustersic
Program - Leta Hall
Publicity - Sandy Rovner
Set Construction - Ed Byrdy, William Kolodrubetz
Set Painting - B. Keith Ryder
Properties - Julie Stevens
Puppets - Carl Johnson, Abby Maier
House Management - Merle Haber
Set Storage - Rockville Civic Center & City of Gaithersburg
Printing - Quick Printing, Inc., Wheaton, Maryland

VLOC Appreciates
VLOC would like to extend its sincere thanks to:
Scott Bloom, Christ Congregational Church, Grace Episcopal Church, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Music & Arts Music Store, Rockville Band, Rockville Little Theater, Rockville Musical Theater, and Silver Spring Stage, for their efforts on its behalf.

Director's Note

Mozart's Magic Flute contains weighty themes and symbolism. It is an allegory of the repression of Freemasonry by the court of the Maria Theresa, the empress of Austria. It celebrates Enlightenment thought. As a director, it is important for me to know of these complexities ... and as an audience member I am profoundly bored by them. For me, the enduring delight of this opera is its ravishing and transcendent score (some of the most glorious music ever written) set to a libretto that is a charming wonder book of fantasy and sorcery. It is the story of growing up, of good versus evil, of happily ever after, and all of those enchanting elements that make up the fairy tales I loved as a child. It is Mozart's most original flight of fancy. I am endlessly fascinated by the juxta-position of the earthy (captured in the characters of Papageno and Papagena) and the sublime (captured by Tamino and Pamina). The voyage these characters make is a universal one. It encompasses coming of age and the quest for love, knowledge, and a belief in something greater than oneself. The characters embody the strengths and weaknesses of the human condition: our jealousies, hatreds, and fears, as well as our loves, goodness and courage. This is a journey we all travel. Come enjoy Mozart's magnificent rendering of that journey.

Synopsis

Act I
Prince Tamino is threatened by a fierce serpent. Three Ladies, attendants to the Queen of the Night, defeat the serpent, but Tamino thinks he has been rescued by Papageno, a bird catcher. Tamino learns from the Three Ladies that the Queen of the Night's daughter, Pamina, has been kidnapped by her father, the sorcerer Sarastro. The Queen of the Night promises Tamino that he can wed Pamina if he wiil rescue her. Tamino agrees and sets off accompanied by Papageno and led by Three Spirits. They are given a magic flute and magic bells by the Queen to help them in their quest. Tamino and Papageno split up to find Pamina. Papageno saves Pamina from Monostatos, the sorcerer's evil servant. They set off to find Tamino. Tamino meanwhile meets Three Priests who serve in Sarastro's temple. He learns from the Priests that Sarastro is a wise ruler who governs in truth and virtue. Tamino is denied entrance into the temple. He despairs of finding Pamina alive, but hears mysterious voices from the temple proclaiming that she is. Papageno and Pamina, in tJYing to escape the temple, are surprised by Sarastro. Monostatos captures Tamino and brings him before Sarastro as well. Tamino discovers from Sarastro that the Queen has been lying, and plans to overthrow the temple and doom all people to ignorance. Sarastro decides to test Tamino's virtue.

Act II
Sarastro and the members of the temple decide to allow Tamino to be initiated into the mysteries of the temple. The Three Priests impose upon Tamino and Papageno a vow of silence and warn them against becoming ensnared by evil women. The Three Ladies attempt to lure Tamino and Papageno back into the Queen's service. Tamino refuses to speak with them, passing the first trial. The Queen of the Night commands Pamina to prove her love by killing Sarastro. Monostatos, learning of the plot demands that Pamina give herself to him, in return for his silence. Pamina is saved by Sarastro, and Monostatos flees to join the Queen of the Night. Tamino sees Pamina, but refuses to break his vow of silence. Driven to despair, Pamina decides to kill herself, but the Three Spirits stop her. Papageno, too, decides to commit suicide after he meets and then loses Papagena, the girl of his dreams. The Three Spirits once again intervene, and reunite Papageno with his Papagena. Tamino, about to undergo his final two rites of initiation, is reunited with Pamina. Together they brave trials by fire and water, and the temple members welcome them into their holy order. The Queen of the Night, the Three Ladies, and Monostatos make a final effort to destroy Sarastro and the temple, but they are defeated. Tamino and Pamina join the temple and celebrate the victory of wisdom and virtue over superstition and ignorance.

Musical Numbers

Overture

Act I
  • Oh, help me! Oh help me! (Tamino, 3 Ladies)
  • Oh, catching birds, that is my trade (Papageno)
  • Oh, vision of enchanting grace! (Tamino)
  • Oh, have no fear, my noble youth (Queen of the Night)
  • Hm! hm! hm!. (Papageno, Tamino, 3 Ladies)
  • My little dove, you're mine again! (Monostatos, Pamina, Papageno)
  • The man who feels love's sweet emotion (Pamina, Papageno)
  • Thus far we've led you towards your goal (3 Spirits, Tamino)
  • Go back!/What brings you here audacious youth? (Second Priest, Tamino, Spokesman, First Priest)
  • Oh, endless night, is there no waking? (Tamino, Chorus)
  • Walk on tiptoe! (Pamina, Papageno)
  • Let us hurry, let us hurry, let us hurry! (Monostatos, Pamina,  Papageno, Chorus)
  • Finale: All hail to Sarastro, let all men revere him! (Ensemble)

Act II
  • Oh, Isis and Osiris (Sarastro
  • And shall we never meet again? (Sarastro, Pamina, Tamino
  • Beware the web of women's weaving (Spokesman, First Priest
  • Why, why, why have you sought this dreadful place? (3 Ladies, Tamino, Papageno
  • All men know that love's a fever (Monostatos
  • You will avenge me, daughter (Queen of the Night
  • Within our holy temple, revenge is quite unknown (Sarastro)
  • Now for the second time we meet you (3 Spirits
  • Oh, maiden come to join me, be Papageno's wife! (Papageno
  • Ah, I feel my life is over (Pamina
  • Bright dawn is heralding the rooming (3 Spirits, Pamina
  • Papagena! Papagena! Papagena! (Papageno, 3 Spirits, Papagena
  • Oh, Isis and Osiris, praise and glory! (Chorus
  • Each man who treads this fearful pathway (Armored Men, Tamino
  • We must be silent, silent, silent (Queen of the Night, Monostatos,  3 Ladies)
  • Finale: The sun's golden glory (Ensemble)