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In the dark forest, the Prince Tamino, is rescued from a serpent by three attendants of the Queen of the Night. The ladies present the Prince to the Queen, who perceives in him the long-awaited champion who can rescue her daughter, Pamina, who is held captive by Sarastro. Enlisting his sympathy and charming him with a picture of her daughter, the Queen promises Tamino that Pamina will be his if he can rescue her from Sarastro, whom she paints as a tyrant. The Prince ssets out on this quest guided by three young spirits. He is armed with the gift of a magic flute whose music can protect him from danger. He is joined in his quest by Papageno, the birdcatcher, who has also received a gift of magic bells.
Papageno finds Pamina and rescues her from the unwanted attentions of the venal Monostatos. They set out in search of the Prince. In the meantime, Tamino has been led by the spirits to the temple where Sarastro dwells. Here, Tamino seeks the advice of the Speaker of the Temple. He learns that Sarastro is holding Pamina captive in order to save her from the evil influence of her mother. He also learns that if he would rescue his beloved he must cast vengeance out of his heart and prove his virtue, faith and bravery. As Pamina and Tamino finally meet in the temple, Tamino solemnly vows to prove himself worthy of her. The tests then begin.
Along with Papageno, Tamino begins his trials. First, the test of constancy in which Tamino and Papageno are tempted by the ladies to flee the realm of Sarastro. The second is the test of silence, which tests not only Tamino and Papageno, but also Pamina. Papageno chooses to abandon the trials in favor of a simple but good life with a wife by his side. Tamino resists the urge to speak to Pamina and succeeds in the test at great emotional cost. Pamina, who has been assaulted on all sides by the Queen, urging her to kill Sarastro, and Monostatos, attempting to ravage her, almost fails her test when she mistakenly believes that Tamino no longer cares about her and resolves to commit suicide. Tamino passes on to the test of courage: he must pass through fire and wateer. In the end, it is only with Pamina to share his trial that Tamino can pass the final test and both Pamina and Tamino are admitted into the temple.
Finally, Papageno, having realized his opportunity for finding a wife has been missed also attempts suicide. He is rescued in the last moment by the young spirits who reunite him with his Papagena. As they run off to their new life, the citizens of the temple celebrate the return of harmony and joy to the world by the uniting of Tamino and Pamina.
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