Ever since its 1791 premiere at the Theater auf der Wieden in the suburbs of Vienna, Mozart’s The Magic Flute has enchanted both classical neophytes and experts. Goethe famously declared that only this music could have accompanied his Faust. “German operetta,” “magic opera,” “Masonic opera,” and many other titles seem unsuited to this sublime work, an unquestioned masterpiece of opera and theatre, which brings out serious and comic elements—ranging from French romance to Italian aria and German Lied, as well as vaudeville—of Emanuel Schikaneder's accessible yet philosophical libretto. The Salzburg-born genius succeeded in bringing unity to these different musical styles and created a unique opus that calls to the ideals of humanity.
Photo © SF/Sandra Then
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