The Magic Flute - Concert Program

COMMUNITY CONCERT SERIES PRESENTS

Mozart
in the
Suburbs

MAGIC FLUTE
& FOOD TRUCKS

Friday, June 18, 2021

Friday, June 18, 2021 | 6:30 p.m.

Scenes from The Magic Flute Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Overture January 27, 1756 - December 5, 1791

Act 1, Scene 1 Act 1, Scene 4
TAMINO TAMINO
Oh, help me! For else I shall perish, Oh vision of enchanting grace!
And then I must fall to the poisonous serpent! What eye has seen a fairer face?
O gods, come to save me! I feel it, feel this glorious sight
That serpent draws near! inspire my heart with strange delight.
Ah, rescue me! I feel some ardent new emotion.
Ah, save me, rescue me! Whence come these flames of pure devotion?
Can these be pangs of love I feel?
Act 1, Scene 2 Ah yes, ‘tis love alone.
PAPAGENO Oh, that I now might stand before her,
Oh, catching birds, that is my trade, Tell her how truly I adore her!
I spend my life in grove and glade! Then I would… I would… heart, reply!
And young and old throughout this land What would I do?
are always glad to shake my hand. With loving arms, I’d caress her
For lovely birds my snares I set, And to my burning heart, I’d press her,
I pipe them down within my net. And then forever she’d be mine,
My life is cheerful, gay, and free, Ah, yes forever she’d be mine.
for all the birds belong to me.
Act 1, Scene 6
Oh, catching birds, that is my trade, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
I spend my life in grove and glade! Oh, have no fear, my noble youth!
And young and old in ev’ry place I know your valor, virtue, truth.
are always glad to see my face. As starry Queen of Night, I proudly greet you;
I wish that I could spread my net as anxious, tender mother, I entreat you.
For ev’ry pretty girl I met.
I’d cage them all, they’d not go free, Behold me, I am broken-hearted,
Till all the girls belonged to me. Mourning my daughter night and day.
With her my every joy departed;
an evil fiend took her away.
I still see her tremble; I still hear her crying,
Her sad eyes, beseeching,
her anguish, her sighing.

Before my eyes that monster seized her; Act 1, Scene 15
‘Ah, help!’ was all that she could speak; TAMINO
But that entreaty could not save her; How strong and sweet thy magic tone;
My loving arms were far too weak. All hearts obey thee,
For thy notes would charm a heart of stone,
You shall boldly go forth to save her, And savage beasts are calm when I play thee.
You shall restore that child of mine.
And when you both return victorious, But Pamina does not hear.
Then she will be forever thine. Pamina! Pamina, hear me!
In vain! Where shall I find you now?
Act 1, Scene 14
PAMINA Ah, I hear Papageno’s pipe!
The man who feels love’s sweet emotion Perhaps Pamina has been found.
Is sure to have a tender heart. Perhaps Pamina’s at his side.
Perhaps the flute will be my guide,
PAPAGENO The magic flute my guide.
To know and share his warm devotion,
Oh, that must be the woman’s part. Act 1, Scene 16
ALL
ALL Walk on tiptoe!
These tender joys of love we’ll own, Hold your breath!
We’ll live by love alone. If we’re caught,
It means our death!
PAMINA If we find Tamino here,
For love holds sway over every creature, All our troubles disappear.
And love can sweeten every woe.
PAMINA
PAPAGENO Ah, Tamino!
And love adds spice to each day’s adventure,
Through all creation here below. PAPAGENO
Quiet, quiet!
ALL I’ve a better way to call him.
The noblest aim in mortal life
Is to be joined as man and wife. ALL
Man and wife when linked by love A delightful sound to greet us!
Rise to join the gods above. So Tamino hears the cry,
With the flute, he makes reply.
Here’s an end to all our worry.
Let us hurry!

Act 1, Scene 17 [English Translation]
ALL Hail, true body
Ev’ry man should have such bells, born of the Virgin Mary,
All his cares would leave him! Who truly suffered, sacrificed
Charmed by music’s magic spells, on the Cross for man,
None would seek to grieve him.
Music plays and hatred ends, Whose pierced side overflowed
All would be the best of friends with water and blood,
There would be an end to strife, Be for us a foretaste
Tears would yield to laughter; In the test of death.
Concord sweet would fill our life,
Joy would follow after. Act 2, Scene 8
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT
Act 1 Finale You will avenge me,
ALL Daughter, you’ll avenge me!
When virtue and when righteousness Death and defiance
Together bless a ruler’s path Burning in my heart!
Then here on earth a heav’n is found,
And mortal men become like gods, If by your hand Sarastro’s life’s not taken,
Restoring the Age of Gold. I shall disown my daughter evermore.
Abandon’d be forever,
END OF ACT 1 Forsaken be forever,
And broken be forever
March of the Priests Ev’ry bond that nature tied.

“Ave verum Corpus” If by your hand Sarastro’s life’s not taken!
[Sung in Latin] Mark, god of vengeance,
Ave, verum Corpus, Mark a mother’s vow!
Natum de Maria Virgine
Vere passum immolatum Act 2, Scene 18
in Cruce pro homine. PAMINA
Ah, I feel my life is over!
Cujus latus perforatum Hope and joy now leave my heart!
Unda fluxit et sanguine, Dream of love, ah, flown forever,
Esto nobis praegustatum Ah, my grieving heart will break.
In mortis examine.
See, Tamino, see my weeping,
Tears that flow for you alone,
Not a word to say you love me?
So, despairing, I shall die!

O Tamino, I implore you! One leaves this earth
Ah, Tamino leaves me weeping! and rises t’ward bright heaven.
Death alone will bring release; Enlightened, mind and heart
Alone I’ll die. will strive for right,
And in the holy rites of Isis
Act 2, Scene 23 Seek true light.
PAPAGENO
O maiden, come to join me, Act 2, Scene 28
Be Papageno’s wife! PAMINA
A turtledove beside me, Tamino mine!
That’s all I ask of life! Joy fills my heart!

Each day would be feasting and pleasure, TAMINO
I’d envy no monarch his treasure, Pamina mine!
And that’s all the wisdom I need, Joy fills my heart!
My life would be heaven indeed. Behold the gates of terror,
Where doom and death abide.
I know there are maidens around me,
But none of them seems to have found me! PAMINA
Did none of you hear what I said? I’ll gladly brave all danger
If single, I’d rather be dead! When I am by your side;
And I shall lead you on,
If pleasures of love are denied me, For love will be my guide;
I’ll die of this fever inside me;
But I could be cured by a kiss, And roses will bestrew the ground,
A kiss would restore me to bliss. For roses bloom where thorns are found.
So take your flute and boldly play;
Oh surely, there’s someone who’ll kiss me, That magic flute will guard our way.
For I could be cured by a kiss,
A kiss would restore me to bliss. Twas carved in strange
Enchanted hour by my father;
Act 2, Scene 28 Long ago he hewed it
CHORUS From deep within an ancient oak,
Each one who treads this fearful pathway
fraught with danger, Mid storm and thunder,
By fire and water, Lightning stroke.
Earth and air is tested; Yes, take that magic flute and play,
And it will guard us on our way.
And if one overcomes
their mortal fear of death,

ALL I’ve had enough, and love is vile.
Set forth and trust in music’s might Lovely maiden, say goodbye!
To lead us safely through this night.
But it’s not too late to save me,
We wandered through the fire unshaken; if some other maid will have me;
The peril bravely we withstood. let me try before I go!
O flute, that tamed the fiery furnace, Say the word; say yes or no!
Now guard our passage thro’ the flood. No one hears me!
All are silent! not a voice replying!
Ye gods, what vision meets our sight! They prefer to see me crying!
Great Isis fills the sky with light. Papageno, you’re a joke!
I can tell, there’s no more hope!
Act 2, Scene 29
PAPAGENO Wait! There’s still a chance...could be!
Papagena! Papagena! Papagena! There’s still a chance. Yes!
Dear one! Darling! Let’s see: till I’ve counted one, two, three!
My beloved! It’s useless!
Ah, where can I find her? Not a sound! There’s no reply!
Whoever had a fate unkinder! So my passion has to die!
My chattering, by day and night, None has mercy on my plight:
Lost me my girl, and serve me right! to true love, I’ll say goodnight!

Why did I taste that splendid wine? PAPAGENO
Why did I meet that girl of mine? Magic bells are ringing,
They lit a fire within my heart, Call my maiden here!
driving me here, driving me there. Magic bells are ringing,
Papagena! Are you near me? Bring my sweetheart here!
Papagena! Can you hear me?
PAPAGENO
It’s no use, she’ll never find me! Pa- pa- pa- pa-
I must leave this love behind me!
All my searching is a waste; PAPAGENA
Let me deny love posthaste. Pa- pa- pa- pa-
Here’s a choice: myself I’ll suffer.
Here’s a stance: I’ll love no other. PAPAGENO
I’m denied my heart’s delight, Are you really mine forever?
so I’ll bid this love goodnight!
Evil world! I’m badly treated, PAPAGENA
all my hopes of love defeated! Yes, I’m really yours forever.

PAPAGENO PAPAGENO
Now like doves we’ll coo together! Papageno!

PAPAGENA PAPAGENA
I’ll be yours with ev’ry feather! Papagena!

ALL ALL
Ah, what pleasure we’ll enjoy We reach the height of human pleasure
When the gracious gods provide us with When many a [Papageno/Papagena]
children in our nest beside us, Arrive to bless their parents’ nest.
With many a girl and many a boy!
Girl and boy! PAPAGENA
Oh, what joy! Pa- pa- pa- papagena!

PAPAGENO PAPAGENO
First with a little Papageno! Pa- pa- pa- papageno!

PAPAGENA Act 2 Finale
Then with a little Papagena! ALL
The brave are victorious;
PAPAGENO The crown they have won.
Then with another Papageno! Their beauty and wisdom
Will shine like the sun.
PAPAGENA
Then with another Papagena! END OF THE OPERA

The Cast

TAMINO Thomas R Swain
PAMINA Olivia Skaff
PAPAGENO Artega Wright
PAPAGENA Aimee Stuart-Flunker
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT Nicole Besa
NARRATOR Doug Zimmer

Thomas R. Swain performs around the world as an operatic and tenor soloist.
Most recently, he was featured as a soloist with the Maryland Choral Society performing in Haydn’s,
The Last Seven Words of Christ on the Cross. His operatic repertoire includes performances of
Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicci, Tamino and Monastatos in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Orfeo
in Monteverdi’s Orfeo, Tony in Bernstein’s West Side Story, and Candide in Bernstein’s Candide.
Mr. Swain holds a Master of Music degree from Mannes School of Music and a Bachelor of Music
degree from the Peabody Conservatory.

Chicago-based soprano Olivia Doig performs a range of classical and musical theater repertoire
across the midwest. Performance highlights include Josephine in HMS Pinafore (Ohio Light
Opera), Zaneeta in The Music Man (Ohio Light Opera), Amor in Ariane et Bachus (Haymarket
Opera), the title role in Patience (Gilbert and Sullivan Company, Inc.), the soprano soloist in
Vivaldi’s Gloria (Hinsdale Chorale), and Gabriel in Haydn’s Creation (Tallahassee Chorus), and
performing concerts as a resident artist with Florentine Opera. Olivia holds a Bachelors of Music
from Wheaton College and a Masters of Music from Florida State University, and is currently a
doctoral student at the University of Illinois. She has received awards from the American Opera
Society of Chicago, the Chicago Bel Canto Foundation, the Orpheus Music Competition, the
Tallahassee Music Guild, the Chicago Italian Cultural Center, various NATS chapters, the Musicians
Club of Women, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Praised for her “metallic voice,” coloratura soprano Nicole Besa is a winner of the 2020 Musician’s
Club of Women Farwell Award, and has also won awards from the youngARTS Foundation, National
Association of Teachers of Singing, and Classical Singer Competitions. Nicole has performed
internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Tiroler Opern Programm in Austria. In the
United States, Ms. Besa has performed with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
Hearing in Color, Anchorage Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Kathleen Battle Chorus,
Bohemian Theatre, Idaho Falls Opera, and is a regular recording artist for Gregorian Institute of
America (GIA) Sacred Publications. Also an actor, Nicole is represented by Gray Talent Group, and
can be seen most recently on NBC’s Chicago FIRE, at American Players Theatre, and as a model for
Miss Spa. Ms. Besa is a student of Nicole Cabelle.

Bass-Baritone, Artega Wright has been lauded as “authoritative and dramatic” (Arkansas Times)
“Showing off a beautiful deep voice and a smile all the more charming” (Lubbock Avalanche) are
just some of the words to describe this exciting Young Artist. A Chicago based singing-actor Artega
has sung with some of Chicago’s most notable ensembles and storefront opera companies. He is
a regular member with Chicago Opera Theatre, in 2020 he premiered and debuted as a Freedom
Rider in Dan Shore’s opera Freedom Ride with the company. Regularly active in Chicago, Wright
has sung with the Adrian Dunn Singers and the ensemble for Kathleen Battle’s Underground
Railroad concert. Not letting the COVID-19 Pandemic get in his way he continued to hone his craft
by partaking in virtual opera performances and role studies with Midwestern Institute of Opera
(MIOpera) roles include Don Pasquale in Don Pasquale, Count Monterone in Rigoletto, and Figaro
in Le Nozze di Figaro. Artega holds a Bachelor’s and Masters degree in Vocal Performance from the
Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University.

Soprano Aimee Stuart-Flunker (Papagena) is an active performer and teacher in Chicagoland area.
She received her Master of Music degree from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her
Bachelor of Music degree from Wheaton College. Her notable roles include Mimì (La Bohème),
Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), First Lady (The Magic Flute), and Mrs. Jaffett (Noye’s Fludde). A
recipient of numerous awards in the Chicago National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
competitions, she was also awarded the Stotler Fellowship while attending the University of Illinois.
This fall, she will be an Apprentice Artist with the Kansas City Lyric Opera while earning her
Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from University of Missouri Kansas-City.

The Orchestra

FLUTE Alexandria Hoffman
OBOE Kevin Gupana
CLARINET Elizabeth Kapitanuik
BASSOON Liam Jackson
HORN Kelsey Williams
TRUMPET Sylvia Etherington
TROMBONE Daniel Quinn
TIMPANI Nathaniel Holman
VIOLIN 1 Alexandria Switala
VIOLIN 2 Brent Taghap
VIOLA Robert Switala
CELLO Najette Abouelhadi
BASS Hannah Novak
PIANO/GLOCKENSPIEL Cindy Trowbridge

The Creative Team

MUSIC DIRECTOR Kedrick Armstrong
CHORUS MASTER/OPERATIONS Jessica Coffey
Paul Burgess
CHOIR REHEARSAL PIANIST Audrey Daum
SCRIPT AUTHOR/COACH Shelton Thompson
AUDIO ENGINEER

Many Thanks to our Volunteer Coordinating Team: (Mary Kinsey, Sher Kirschbaum, Dennis
Bass) and to all of the First Pres Wheaton Staff/Volunteers who made this event possible!