Prince Tamino (Mauro Peter) promises the Queen of the Night (Sabine Devieilhe) that he will save her daughter Pamina (Siobhan Stagg) from the sorcerer Sarastro. Accompanied by the bird catcher Papageno (Roderick Williams), he sets out on a quest - but all is not as it seems .. Mozart wrote "The Magic Flute" for a Viennese suburban theater, the Theater auf der Wieden. He made use of the magical spectacle and earthy comedy of popular Viennese theater. The Magic Flute is not only a comedy, but also an expression of Mozart's deep spiritual beliefs: enlightenment and the search for wisdom and virtue are at the heart of this enchanting tale. The Magic Flute was an instant success with audiences, and Mozart's would-be rival Salieri called it an "operone" - a grand opera. David McVicar's classic production embraces both the seriousness and the comedy of Mozart's work. The audience is transported to a fantastical world of dancing animals, flying machines and a dazzling starry sky. The set provides a wonderful backdrop for Mozart's kaleidoscopic score, from the Queen of the Night's coloratura fireworks to Tamino and Pamina's lyrical love duets to Papageno's heartfelt, folksong-like arias.