Die Zauberflöte (Feb. 9, 1991)

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Emanuel Schikaneder

Levine; Battle, Serra, Araiza, Moll, Hemm

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 41 min.

Mozart’s magical fairy tale has enchanted and moved audiences for more than 200 years—which is easy to understand after hearing this broadcast, brilliantly conducted by James Levine. The handsome, stalwart prince Tamino (Francisco Araiza) must fight supernatural forces to rescue the beautiful princess (Kathleen Battle) with whom he has fallen in love—after seeing only her portrait. But Tamino is in a strange land and doesn’t know whom he can trust, including Sarastro (Kurt Moll), the leader of a mysterious noble order.