The Queen of the Night is the dark controlling power in
Mozart's opera
Die Zauberflöte (
The Magic Flute). Her opponent is
Sarastro, priest of the Sun, who has kidnapped her daughter
Pamina.
Prince Tamino on entering her realm is told of this by her three attendant ladies, and vows to rescue the Princess. However, when he learns the truth about her, he turns to Sarastro's side. The Queen of the Night orders Pamina to kill him. But Pamina and Tamino's love for each other enables them to pass their tests of fidelity, and the Queen of the Night's power is defeated.
She is a soprano; she has an aria O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn! in Act One, but her best-known aria is the fiery Die Hölle Rache, in which she urges Pamina to kill Sarastro:
Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen,
Tod und Verzweiflung flammet um mich her!
Fühlt nicht durch dich Sarastro Todesschmerzen,
So bist du meine Tochter nimmermehr.
Verstoßen sei auf ewig, verlassen sei auf ewig.
Zertrümmert sein auf ewig alle Bande der Natur,
Wenn nicht durch dich Sarastro wird erblassen!
Hört, Rachegötter, hört der Mutter Schwur!
Hell's revenge is boiling in my heart,
Death and despair flame all around me!
If Sarastro doesn't feel death's pain from you,
So you're my daughter nevermore.
Be cursed forever, be abandoned forever.
Every order of nature be destroyed forever,
If Sarastro isn't struck pale by you!
Hear, gods of revenge, hear the mother's oath!