Christopher Purves bass - Chandos

CHAN 3121 BOOK.qxd 12/9/06 4:19 pm Page 144
Behold the dreaded portal,
the gate to death and fear.
Pamina
Our love makes me immortal
and safe while you are here;
if I am by your side
our love will be our guide.
(She takes his hand.)
Our pain with patience must be borne,
for ev’ry rose must have a thorn.
This magic flute will ease our pain
and lead us safely back again.
You know the story of its power;
my father in a mystic hour
once carved it from an ancient tree
when storms were raging, fierce and free.
So take the magic flute and play,
for it will guard us on our way.
Tamino and Pamina
We need its magic pow’r and might
to lead us through death’s darkest night.
Two Armed Men
You need its magic pow’r and might
to lead you through death’s darkest night.
(The doors are closed behind them; Tamino and
Pamina are seen making their way. Tamino plays
on his flute. As soon as they have emerged from the
fire, they embrace one another and remain at the
centre of the stage.)
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March
Pamina and Tamino
The fiery furnace could not harm us,
we saw the flames that did not feel.
Let music shelter us and arm us,
from now we face the last ordeal.
(Tamino plays as they are seen making their way
down, and after a time coming up again;
immediately a door opens; the entrance to a
brightly illuminated temple is revealed.)
Behold a glimpse of heav’n above;
the Gods have bless’d us with their love.
Attendants and Priests
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice, the end is near,
now you have conquered pain and fear.
The temple gates are open wide,
come, come, Isis welcomes you inside.
(They all leave.)
(The scene changes back to the previous garden.)
Papageno
22 Papagena! Papagena! Papagena!
Sweetheart! Darling! Little starling!
It’s useless; ah! I am forsaken,
since from my side my bride was taken,
for chattering, chattering, my one delight,
so I suppose it served me right.
Now I have found my love at last,
now I have tasted wine so rare,
my heart is beating twice as fast,
fluttering here, fluttering there.
Papagena, let me kiss you,
Papagena, how I miss you!
Little wife, I longed to win you,
now my life cannot continue.
When you’re burning with desire
Only death can quench the fire.
(He takes a rope from around his waist.)
Unbeloved and unbefriended,
from this tree I’ll be suspended.
When your only love has gone,
what’s the point of hanging on?
Must I die unloved and lonely?
You can save me now if only
someone here would be my wife;
lovely ladies, save my life,
say the word and save my life!
Is it me that’s hard of hearing
or is no one volunteering?
Here’s your chance before you go,
don’t be shy, say yes or no!
Not an answer… Total silence…
(looking around him)
Totally rejected;
this is not what I expected!
Papageno, up you climb,
you must perish in your prime.
(looking around him)
Right! I’ll wait a bit! Okay!
Eh? Not quite now! Oh! I see!
You want me to count to three!
(He pipes, looking around him.)
One! Two! Three!
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Now my life is at an end,
now the time has come to die,
Let me kiss the world goodbye!
(He is about to hang himself.)
Three Boys (flying down)
Enough, enough! No, Papageno, foolish man,
you live but once, enjoy it while you can.
Papageno
You’re always dropping into guide me;
but if you felt the fire inside me
you’d want to die for love like me.
Three Boys
You needn’t die when we can save you;
what of the magic bells we gave you?
Papageno
I had forgotten them completely!
(He takes out his instrument.)
Come pretty bells, sing out so sweetly,
and bring my sweetheart back to me.
Play your magic music,
let my love appear,
play your magic music,
lead my sweetheart here.
Bring my love, my turtle dove,
Bring her to me!
Play your magic music,
let my love appear.
Three Boys
Look round and tell us what you see!