CHAN 3121 BOOK.qxd 12/9/06 4:19 pm Page 114 On session: Sir Charles Mackerras 114 On session: Simon Keenlyside and Sir Peter Moores 115
CHAN 3121 BOOK.qxd 12/9/06 4:19 pm Page 116 1 2 COMPACT DISC ONE Overture Act I The scene is a rocky place, here and there overgrown with trees; on both sides are smallish hills; there is also a round temple. (Tamino comes down from a rock on the right, dressed in a splendid Japanese hunting costume, and carrying a bow, but no arrows. A serpent pursues him.) No. 1 Introduction Tamino Have mercy, have mercy, ah, heaven protect me. Have mercy! Have mercy! Ah, do not refuse me. A terrible nightmare, a monster pursues me, have mercy, I beg you! I cannot escape, I cannot escape, ah, rescue me! Is no one here to rescue me. Is no one here to help me? Help me, heaven, help me now! (He faints; immediately the door to the temple opens; three veiled ladies come out, each carrying a silver spear.) Three Ladies We hear your call; the monster dies… Rejoice! Rejoice! 116 Behold your monster, there it lies. Our fearless act, our noble deed has saved him in his hour of need. First Lady (looking at him) Observe his face, so fine and fair. Second Lady So young and chaste, such lovely hair. Third Lady It seems a waste to leave him there. Three Ladies If I were free to love and kiss, I’d choose a youth who looked like this. Let’s tell the Queen about this stranger and how we rescued him from danger. Perhaps this handsome youth may find the way to soothe her troubled mind. First Lady So why all this delay? You should be on your way! Second Lady You’d better go ahead, I’ll stay with him instead. Third Lady You go and tell the Queen and then we’ll reconvene. First Lady Why do you both delay? Second Lady I think you should obey. Third Lady My duty is to stay. First Lady I’ll tend him. Second Lady I’ll guard him. Third Lady I’ll nurse him. Three Ladies Me, me, me! Three Ladies (each to herself ) Why should I go? No, no! No, no, I know their little game. These wicked women have no shame, behaving so. Oh, no, I will not, will not go! They want to get him on their own, yes, all alone. No, no! I will not go! This lovely boy, who could refuse him? It would be lunacy to lose him! And that is why I have to stay! But duty calls! We must away. The Queen commands and we obey. Although it breaks my heart in two, I have to say farewell to you 117 3 until we meet again, farewell, farewell, farewell! (All three go to the door of the temple, which automatically opens, then closes.) Dialogue Tamino (comes to and looks about him fearfully) Where am I? Am I still alive? (In the distance panpipes are heard, quietly accompanied by the orchestra.) What’s that noise? (Papageno comes down the footpath; on his back is a large birdcage which reaches high above his head, and which contains a variety of birds; with both hands he holds a set of panpipes, and he plays and sings.) No. 2 Aria Papageno I’m sure that there could never be a more contented man than me. I earn my living as I please, I charm the birds from out the trees. I set my nets against the sky, I call the birds and down they fly… So when you hear my music play you’ll know that I’m not far away. If only I could cast a spell to capture pretty girls as well. My nets would get them by the score,
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