Queen of the Night is a new musical after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte), with music by Paul Lorenz and English Lyrics by Jeremy Sams. Its 23 newly written songs were recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with voices from the West End, arranged for guitars, piano, drums and a grand orchestra. The musical has not yet been staged — it is now seeking its stage.
At a glance
- Work: Queen of the Night — a new musical
- After: Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute, Vienna 1791)
- Music: Paul Lorenz
- Lyrics: English Lyrics by Jeremy Sams
- Songs: 23, newly written, sung in English
- Recording: Abbey Road Studios, London — voices from the West End
- Arrangements: guitars, piano, drums and grand orchestra
- Status: A new musical — now seeking its stage
The story
Queen of the Night keeps the story and the characters of Mozart’s opera. Prince Tamino, lost and hunted by a serpent, is rescued by the Three Ladies of the Queen of the Night. The Queen shows him a portrait of her daughter Pamina, held in the realm of Sarastro, and sends him to free her — with the bird-catcher Papageno at his side, a magic flute to protect him and a set of magic bells.
What looks like a rescue becomes a test. In Sarastro’s temple the lovers have to pass trials of silence, fire and water, the Queen’s fury turns to vengeance, and the night gives way to the light. Mozart and his librettist Emanuel Schikaneder premiered the opera in Vienna in 1791; it has been one of the most performed operas in the world ever since.
The music and the recording
The music of Queen of the Night is composed, arranged and produced by Paul Lorenz, with English Lyrics by Jeremy Sams. The 23 songs are newly written — Mozart’s story in the language of contemporary musical theatre: guitars, piano and drums carry the songs, and a grand orchestra gives them the scale of the opera house.
The 23 songs were recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with voices from the West End.
Songs from Queen of the Night
Queen of the Night has 23 songs. The opening number is released; seven further songs can be heard in the official trailer.
Why Should I Go — the opening number
Tamino flees the serpent, faints, and is saved by the Three Ladies — who then each refuse to be the one who leaves his side. The complete track streams in lossless quality on Artyfile Stream; the 30-second preview plays at the top of this page.
About the song Listen on Artyfile StreamHeard in the trailer
- Don’t Be Afraid
- We Must Obey Love’s Holy Law
- We Worship Sarastro
- The Wrath of Hell
- Ev’ry Rose Must Have a Thorn
- Here’s an End to All Our Fear
Official trailer
The official trailer (2:37), published on 3 November 2026. The chapters follow the songs in the order they are heard.
Chapters
- Prologue
- Why Should I Go
- Don’t Be Afraid
- We Must Obey Love’s Holy Law
- We Worship Sarastro
- The Wrath of Hell
- Ev’ry Rose Must Have a Thorn
- Here’s an End to All Our Fear
Questions about Queen of the Night
What is Queen of the Night?
Queen of the Night is a new musical after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte). The music is by Paul Lorenz and the English Lyrics are by Jeremy Sams. Its 23 newly written songs were recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London with voices from the West End.
Who wrote the music and the lyrics?
The music is composed, arranged and produced by Paul Lorenz. The credit for the lyrics reads “English Lyrics by Jeremy Sams”. The story comes from Mozart’s opera, whose original German libretto was written by Emanuel Schikaneder.
Is Queen of the Night an opera or a musical?
A musical. It keeps the story and the characters of Mozart’s opera — Tamino, Pamina, Papageno, Sarastro and the Queen of the Night — and tells it in 23 newly written songs for contemporary musical theatre, with guitars, piano, drums and a grand orchestra.
Can I see Queen of the Night on stage?
Not yet. Queen of the Night has been written and recorded but has not yet been staged, so there are no performances yet. The musical is now seeking its stage; producers and theatres can get in touch at [email protected].
Where was Queen of the Night recorded?
At Abbey Road Studios in London, with voices from London’s West End.
How many songs does Queen of the Night have?
23. The opening number, “Why Should I Go”, is released, and seven further songs can be heard in the official trailer.
Where can I listen to the music?
“Why Should I Go” streams in lossless quality on Artyfile Stream, and a 30-second preview plays on this page. The official trailer is on YouTube and on this page.