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  Queen of the Night
video   
Pagagena!

bufaOPERA BUFA: SINGSPIEL
The Magic Flute (fragments)

- Title: Queen of the Night.quenn
 p

 - Composer:Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

- Genre: Aria. Vocal music, opera bufa.

- Style: Classicism

- Number of voices: 1vv
- Voicing: Soprano
- Language: German

- Instruments: an orchestra consisting of two flutes (one doubling on piccolo), two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, three trombones (alto, tenor, and bass), timpani and strings.
The work also requires a four-part chorus.

- Form: Singspiel, German popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue.

- Description: 
PLOT:
Ancient Egypt: Tamino, chased by a snake, falls unconscious. Three Ladies kill the snake and leave to tell the Queen of Night what has happened. As Tamino awakes, Papageno appears, dressed as a bird, and claims he killed the serpent. The Three Ladies hear his lie and padlock his mouth. They give Tamino a portrait of Pamina, the Queen's daughter, and he falls in love with her. The Queen agrees to their marriage if he rescues Pamina who is a prisoner of Sarastro. The Ladies give Tamino a magic flute and Papageno a set of magic bells to aid them in their mission. Three Boys show them the way. Papageno saves Pamina from being tormented by Monastatos and assures her that rescue is at hand. Tamino plays his flute and wild animals come and listen to him, but he hears Papageno's bells and goes to find him. Papageno rescues Pamina and brings her to join Tamino. They go to meet Sarastro, who tells them they must go through several ordeals before being worthy to join the Temple. Monastatos attempts to seduce Pamina. She is saved by the Queen, who gives her daughter a dagger to kill Sarastro. Two Armed Men lead Tamino in. He is joined by Pamina to go through his trials by fire and water. Meantime Papageno meets an old crone who turns out to be the beautiful Papagena who will be his bride. Having come through their trials, Pamina and Tamino are united in Sarastro's presence.


- Title: Pa-pa-pa-Papagena!papagenop
 
- Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

- Genre: Duet. Vocal music, opera bufa.

- Style: Classicism

- Number of voices: 2vv
- Voicing: Soprano - Baritone
- Language: German


- Instruments: an orchestra consisting of two flutes (one doubling on piccolo), two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, three trombones (alto, tenor, and bass), timpani and strings.
The work also requires a four-part chorus.


- Form: Singspiel, German popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue.

- Description: Mozart evidently wrote the opera keeping in mind the skills of the singers intended for the premiere, which included both virtuosi and ordinary comic actors asked to sing for the occasion. Thus, the vocal lines for Papageno are often started first in the strings so the singer can find his pitch, and are frequently doubled by instruments.
In contrast, the Queen of the Night, evidently needed little such help: this role is famous for its difficulty.
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