The Three Boys are playing at dice to decide the outcome of Tamino’s fate.

Act 1
The sight of a woman and appearance of a huge serpent cause Tamino to faint.
The Three Ladies, attendants of the Queen of the Night, come to Tamino’s aid and play with him. Tamino awakes and sees the birdcatcher Papageno. He wants to bring the birds that he catches to the Queen in exchange for food and drink. Tamino reveals that he is a prince. Papageno boasts that he strangled the serpent and the Three Ladies punish him. They give Tamino a portrait of the Queen’s daughter, Pamina. It is love at first sight. When he learns that the maiden was abducted by the tyrant Sarastro, he vows to rescue her. The Queen appears. She encourages Tamino’s resolution and promises that he can marry Pamina in return. Tamino and Papageno are given a magic flute and magic bells to protect them. The Three Boys are to guide them on their way. The slaves in Sarastro’s kingdom are pleased. It seems that Pamina has escaped her persecutor, the Moor Monostatos. But Monostatos has already recaptured the maiden and scares off the slaves so he can be alone with her. Just as he is about to approach her, Monostatos encounters Papageno, sent ahead by Tamino. Both are terrified by each other and run away but Papageno returns to Pamina and tells her of their plan to free her. Together they praise love as the fulfilment of human existence.
Tamino, guided by the Three Boys, has meanwhile entered the inner temple where he meets one of the first attendants of the brotherhood. This priest advises him to examine impartially the reasons for Sarastro’s abduction of Pamina. Confused, Tamino remains behind and tries to find Pamina by playing the magic flute. But he only hears Papageno’s flute in reply and follows the sound. Fleeing, Pamina and Papageno are surprised by Monostatos and the slaves but they are saved from capture by the power of the magic bells. The arrival of Sarastro is announced. Before him, Pamina confesses that she was trying to escape, justifying herself by saying: "The evil Moor had demanded her love." Sarastro insists that she remain under his rule because this is the only way for her to escape her mother’s influence: "A man must guide your hearts, without a man any woman leaves his circle of influence." He punishes Monostatos, even though the Moor can pride himself on capturing Tamino. Tamino and Pamina meet for the first time. Sarastro has the strangers taken away to be "cleansed" for the trials.

Act 2
At the meeting of the brotherhood, Sarastro announces his decision to marry Tamino and Pamina as soon as Tamino complies with the brotherhood’s laws. He therefore orders a series of trials - without regard for danger of death. Tamino is willing immediately but Papageno is only convinced when he is promised a wife. Tamino and Pamina are separated from each other. Tamino and Papageno are led to the first trial with the warning to avoid the "temptation of women". They have to maintain a vow of silence in any situation. The Queen’s Three Ladies enter Sarastro’s kingdom and try to persuade Tamino and Papageno to flee. The amorous Monostatos wants to kiss Pamina while she lies asleep. He is thwarted by the Queen of the Night. She demands that Pamina kill Sarastro to gain possession of the powerful sun circle which her husband had withheld from her on his death and had given to the brotherhood. The Queen threatens to cast her daughter out for ever if she disobeys. Monostatos overhears this and tries to force Pamina’s love by blackmailing her. Sarastro appears and prevents Monostatos from killing Pamina who refuses to give in to him. Sarastro promises Pamina that he will not take revenge on her mother. Monostatos decides to obtain his objective by allying himself with the Queen of the Night. Papageno cannot hold his tongue. Speaking to an old woman, he learns that she wants to be his bride. Before he realises who she is, the old woman disappears.
The Three Boys bring Tamino and Papageno food and magical instruments which Sarastro had previously confiscated. While Papageno savours the food, Tamino plays his flute; the sound brings Pamina to him. Pamina cannot understand his silence, she believes he no longer loves her. Papageno searches despairingly for Papagena. His pain too makes him want to kill himself. The Three Boys prevent him from committing suicide and remind Papageno that he can use the magical power of his bells to summon Papagena. Monostatos is allied with the Queen and her Ladies. Together they plan to overturn Sarastro’s rule. As a reward, the Queen promises her daughter to the Moor. But the superior brotherhood triumphs over the conspirators. Sarastro appears to have reached the pinnacle of his desires: he hands over power to Pamina and Tamino. Papageno does not wish to become a member of the brotherhood. His wish is for a maiden, and the old woman appears again. She emerges as the young Papagena but once again the two are separated from each other. Left alone, Pamina tries to commit suicide. The Three Boys save her and tell her of Tamino’s undiminished love. Two harnessed men prepare Tamino for the last big trial. Pamina wants to accompany him through the difficult trial of fire and water, and tells him to play his flute. The power of the music protects them from any danger. Together Pamina and Tamino pass the trial and make their way to the temple. The Queen of the Night, her Ladies and the defecting Moor enter the temple to kill Sarastro. They are engulfed in eternal darkness in a clap of thunder and lightening. At the head of his priests, Sarastro blesses Tamino and Pamina. They enter the temple and are initiated into the brotherhood. 

The opera begins with the overture, which Mozart composed last.

Act 1

Scene 1: A rough, rocky landscape

Tamino, a handsome prince lost in a distant land, is pursued by a serpent and asks the gods to save him (aria: "Zu Hilfe! Zu Hilfe!" segued into trio: "Stirb, Ungeheuer, durch uns're Macht!"). He faints, and three ladies, attendants of the Queen of the Night, appear and kill the serpent. They find the unconscious prince extremely attractive, and each of them tries to convince the other two to leave. After arguing, they reluctantly decide to leave together.

Tamino wakes up, and is surprised to find himself still alive. Papageno enters dressed as a bird. He describes his life as a bird-catcher, complaining he has no wife or girlfriend (aria: "Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja"). Tamino introduces himself to Papageno, thinking Papageno killed the serpent. Papageno happily takes the credit – claiming he strangled it with his bare hands. The three ladies suddenly reappear and instead of giving Papageno wine, cake and figs, they give him water, a stone and place a padlock over his mouth as a warning not to lie. They give Tamino a portrait of the Queen of the Night's daughter Pamina, with whom Tamino falls instantly in love (aria: "Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön" / This image is enchantingly beautiful).

The ladies return and tell Tamino that Pamina has been captured by Sarastro, whom they describe as a powerful, evil demon. Tamino vows to rescue Pamina. The Queen of the Night appears and promises Tamino that Pamina will be his if he rescues her from Sarastro (Recitative and aria: "O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn" / Oh, tremble not, my dear son!). The Queen leaves and the ladies remove the padlock from Papageno's mouth with a warning not to lie any more. They give Tamino a magic flute which has the power to change sorrow into joy. They tell Papageno to go with Tamino, and give him (Papageno) magic bells for protection. The ladies introduce three child-spirits, who will guide Tamino and Papageno to Sarastro's temple. Together Tamino and Papageno set forth (Quintet: "Hm! Hm! Hm! Hm!").

Scene 2: A room in Sarastro's palace

Pamina is dragged in by Sarastro's slaves, apparently having tried to escape. Monostatos, a blackamoor and chief of the slaves, orders the slaves to chain her and leave him alone with her. Papageno, sent ahead by Tamino to help find Pamina, enters (Trio: "Du feines Täubchen, nur herein!"). Monostatos and Papageno are each terrified by the other's strange appearance and both flee. Papageno returns and announces to Pamina that her mother has sent Tamino to save her. Pamina rejoices to hear that Tamino is in love with her. She offers sympathy and hope to Papageno, who longs for a wife. Together they reflect on the joys and sacred duties of marital love (duet: "Bei Männern welche Liebe fühlen").

Finale. Scene 3: A grove in front of a temple

The three child-spirits lead Tamino to Sarastro's temple, promising that if he remains patient, wise and steadfast, he will succeed in rescuing Pamina (Quartet: "Zum Ziele führt dich diese Bahn"). Tamino approaches the left-hand entrance and is denied access by voices from within. The same happens when he goes to the entrance on the right. But from the entrance in the middle, an old priest appears and lets Tamino in. (The old priest is referred to as "The Speaker" in the libretto, but his role is a singing role.) He tells Tamino that Sarastro is benevolent, not evil, and that he should not trust the Queen of the Night. He promises that Tamino's confusion will be lifted when Tamino approaches the temple in a spirit of friendship. Tamino plays his magic flute. Animals appear and dance, enraptured, to his music. Tamino hears Papageno's pipes sounding offstage, and hurries off to find him (aria: "Wie stark ist nicht dein Zauberton").

Papageno and Pamina enter, searching for Tamino (trio: "Schnelle Füße, rascher Mut"). They are recaptured by Monostatos and his slaves. Papageno plays his magic bells, and Monostatos and his slaves begin to dance, and exit the stage, still dancing, mesmerised by the beauty of the music (chorus: "Das klinget so herrlich"). Papageno and Pamina hear the sound of Sarastro's retinue approaching. Papageno is frightened and asks Pamina what they should say. She answers that they must tell the truth. Sarastro enters, with a crowd of followers. (chorus: "Es lebe Sarastro!")

Pamina falls at Sarastro's feet and confesses that she tried to escape because Monostatos had forced his attentions on her. Sarastro receives her kindly and assures her that he wishes only for her happiness. But he refuses to return her to her mother, whom he describes as a proud, headstrong woman, and a bad influence on those around her. Pamina, he says, must be guided by a man.

Monostatos brings in Tamino. The two lovers see one another for the first time and embrace, causing indignation among Sarastro's followers. Monostatos tells Sarastro that he caught Papageno and Pamina trying to escape, and demands a reward. Sarastro, however, punishes Monostatos for his lustful behaviour toward Pamina, and sends him away. He announces that Tamino must undergo trials of wisdom in order to become worthy as Pamina's husband. The priests declare that virtue and righteousness will sanctify life and make mortals like gods ("Wenn Tugend und Gerechtigkeit").

Act 2

Scene 1: A grove of palms

The council of priests of Isis and Osiris, headed by Sarastro, enters to the sound of a solemn march. Sarastro tells the priests that Tamino is ready to undergo the ordeals that will lead to enlightenment. He invokes the gods Isis and Osiris, asking them to protect Tamino and Pamina (Aria and chorus: "O Isis und Osiris").

Scene 2: The courtyard of the Temple of Ordeal

Tamino and Papageno are led in by two priests for the first trial. The two priests advise Tamino and Papageno of the dangers ahead of them, warn them of women's wiles and swear them to silence (Duet: "Bewahret euch von Weibertücken"). The three ladies appear and try to frighten Tamino and Papageno into speaking. (Quintet: "Wie, wie, wie") Papageno cannot resist answering the ladies, but Tamino remains aloof, angrily instructing Papageno not to listen to the ladies' threats and to keep quiet. Seeing that Tamino will not speak to them, the ladies withdraw in confusion.

Scene 3: A garden

Pamina is asleep. Monostatos approaches and gazes upon her with rapture. (Aria: "Alles fühlt der Liebe Freuden") He is about to kiss the sleeping Pamina, when the Queen of the Night appears. Monostatos hides. In response to the Queen's questioning, Pamina explains that Tamino is joining Sarastro's brotherhood and she is thinking of accompanying him too. The Queen is not pleased. She explains that her husband was the previous owner of the temple and on his deathbed, gave the ownership to Sarastro instead of her, rendering the Queen powerless (this is in the original libretto, but is usually omitted from modern productions, to shorten the scene with Pamina and her mother). She gives Pamina a dagger, ordering her to kill Sarastro with it and threatening to disown her if she does not. (Aria: "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen"). She leaves. Monostatos returns and tries to force Pamina's love by threatening to reveal the Queen's plot, but Sarastro enters and drives him off. Pamina begs Sarastro to forgive her mother and he reassures her that revenge and cruelty have no place in his domain (Aria: "In diesen heil'gen Hallen").

Scene 4: A hall in the Temple of Ordeal

Tamino and Papageno are led in by priests, who remind them that they must remain silent. Papageno complains of thirst. An old woman enters and offers Papageno a cup of water. He drinks and teasingly asks whether she has a boyfriend. She replies that she does and that his name is Papageno. She disappears as Papageno asks for her name, and the three child-spirits bring in food, the magic flute, and the bells, sent from Sarastro (Trio: "Seid uns zum zweiten Mal willkommen"). Tamino begins to play the flute, which summons Pamina. She tries to speak with him, but Tamino, bound by his vow of silence, cannot answer her, and Pamina begins to believe that he no longer loves her. (Aria: "Ach, ich fühl's, es ist verschwunden") She leaves in despair.

Scene 5: The pyramids

The priests celebrate Tamino's successes so far, and pray that he will succeed and become worthy of their order (Chorus: "O Isis und Osiris"). Pamina is brought in and Sarastro instructs Pamina and Tamino to bid each other farewell before the greater trials ahead, alarming them by describing it as their "final farewell". (Trio: Sarastro, Pamina, Tamino – "Soll ich dich, Teurer, nicht mehr sehn?" Note: In order to preserve the continuity of Pamina's suicidal feelings, this trio is sometimes performed earlier in act 2, preceding or immediately following Sarastro's aria "O Isis und Osiris".) They exit and Papageno enters. The priests grant his request for a glass of wine and he expresses his desire for a wife. (Aria: "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen"). The elderly woman reappears and warns him that unless he immediately promises to marry her, he will be imprisoned forever. When Papageno promises to love her faithfully (muttering that he will only do this until something better comes along), she is transformed into the young and pretty Papagena. Papageno rushes to embrace her, but the priests drive him back, telling him that he is not yet worthy of her.

Finale. Scene 6: A garden

The three child-spirits hail the dawn. They observe Pamina, who is contemplating suicide because she believes Tamino has abandoned her. The child-spirits restrain her and reassure her of Tamino's love. (Quartet: "Bald prangt, den Morgen zu verkünden").

Scene change without interrupting the music, to Scene 7: Outside the Temple of Ordeal

Two men in armor lead in Tamino. They recite one of the formal creeds of Isis and Osiris, promising enlightenment to those who successfully overcome the fear of death ("Der, welcher wandert diese Strasse voll Beschwerden"). This recitation takes the musical form of a Baroque chorale prelude, to a tune inspired by Martin Luther's hymn "Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein" (Oh God, look down from heaven).Tamino declares that he is ready to be tested. Pamina calls to him from offstage. The men in armour assure him that the trial by silence is over and he is free to speak with her. Pamina enters and declares her intention to undergo the remaining trials with him. She hands him the magic flute to help them through the trials ("Tamino mein, o welch ein Glück!"). Protected by the music of the magic flute, they pass unscathed through chambers of fire and water. Offstage, the priests hail their triumph and invite the couple to enter the temple.

Scene change without interrupting the music, to Scene 8: A garden with a tree

Papageno despairs at having lost Papagena and decides to hang himself (Aria/Quartet: "Papagena! Papagena! Papagena! Weibchen, Täubchen, meine Schöne") The three child-spirits appear and stop him. They advise him to play his magic bells to summon Papagena. She appears and, united, the happy couple stutter in astonishment and make bird-like courting sounds at each other. They plan their future and dream of the many children they will have together (Duet: "Pa... pa... pa...").

Scene change without interrupting the music, to Scene 9: A rocky landscape outside the temple; night

The traitorous Monostatos appears with the Queen of the Night and her three ladies. They plot to destroy the temple ("Nur stille, stille") and the Queen confirms that she has promised her daughter Pamina to Monostatos. But before the conspirators can enter the temple, they are magically cast out into eternal night.

Scene change without interrupting the music, to Scene 10: The Temple of the Sun

Sarastro announces the sun's triumph over the night, and hails the dawn of a new era of wisdom and brotherhood. Animals appear again and dance in the sun.