A whimsical fairy tale with themes deeply rooted in the Enlightenment and principles of Free Masonry, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) appeals to audiences of all ages. Tony Award–winner Julie Taymor matches the magic and mystery of this timeless fable with a staging that bursts to life with vivid colors, intricate costumes, and inventive puppetry. In this performance from the 2017–18 Live in HD season, tenor Charles Castronovo stars as Tamino, the noble prince on a quest to rescue the maiden Pamina, sung by radiant soprano Golda Schultz in her Met-debut season. Along the way, Tamino befriends the lovable bird catcher Papageno, sung by baritone Markus Werba, and goes up against the forces of light—represented by bass René Pape’s benevolent Sarastro—and darkness—embodied by soprano Kathryn Lewek’s hair-raising Queen of the Night. Maestro James Levine is on the podium to lead a joyous performance of one of Mozart’s final masterpieces.