Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age resulted in more than 800 works representing virtually every Western classical genre of his time. Many of these compositions are acknowledged as pinnacles of the symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic, and choral repertoire. Mozart is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music, with his music admired for its "melodic beauty, its formal elegance and its richness of harmony and texture". Born in Salzburg, Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood. At age five, he was already competent on keyboard and violin, had begun to compose, and performed before European royalty.

The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspiel, a popular form during the time it was written that included both singing and spoken dialogue. The work premiered on 30 September 1791 at Schikaneder's theatre, the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna, just two months before the composer's death. It was the last opera that Mozart composed. The opera was an outstanding success from its first performances, and remains a staple of the opera repertory to this day.

"Zu Hilfe! Zu Hilfe! Sonst bin ich verloren" translates to "Help! Help! Otherwise I am lost" in German, and is a dramatic plea for assistance from the aria "O, Isis und Osiris" sung by the character Tamino from the opera. It's a desperate cry for help, signifying a moment where Tamino feels trapped and in danger, often sung with great urgency and high notes. Tamino sings this line when he is initially attacked by a serpent in the opera, calling out for help to escape the danger. This aria is considered one of the most recognizable parts of "The Magic Flute" due to its dramatic intensity and vocal demands.

Source: Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_Flute).

Although originally composed for Soprano & Orchestra, I created this arrangement of the Introduction Aria: "Zu Hilfe! Zu Hilfe! Sonst bin ich verloren" (K.620 Act I No. 1) for String Quartet (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).