This imaginative production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute features the puppetry and designs of celebrated director Julie Taymor. Pictured: Nathan Gunn as Papageno.

Celebrated director Julie Taymor, who brought The Lion King to Broadway, casts her spell on Mozart's The Magic Flute. Dancing bears, flying birds, even a giant serpent are all brought vividly to life through Taymor's innovative use of puppetry. Great Performances at the Met "The Magic Flute," which is an abridged version of Mozart's opera sung in English, airs Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1.

The young cast includes Nathan Gunn as Papageno, Erika Miklósa as Queen of the Night, René Pape as Sarastro, Ying Huang as Pamina, Matthew Polenzani as Tamino, Greg Fedderly as Monostatos and Jennifer Aylmer as Papagena, conducted by beloved maestro James Levine.

The Magic Flute is the tale of Tamino, who, after being saved from a serpent by three ladies in the service of the Queen of the Night, finds himself on a rescue mission of his own. Armed with a magic flute; an untrustworthy companion, Papageno, and his silver bells; and three guiding spirits, Tamino must rescue his love, Pamina, who has been enslaved by the evil Sarasto.

Meanwhile, Papageno pairs off with a mysterious old woman. However, once he promises to be faithful, the flirtatious old woman turns in to the young and beautiful Papagena.

As the opera progresses, Tamino and Pamina must face separation and ordeals of water and fire, and Papageno must find a way to keep the constantly disappearing Papagena at his side.

Great Performances at the Met is a co-production of WNET/New York and the New York Metropolitan Opera.