Die Zauberflote – The Magic Flute
by susanvg
The Magic Flute was Mozart’s final opera, written in 1791, the same year of his death. It had its first performance at the Theater auf der Weiden in Vienna.
The idea for The Magic Flute came about through the friendship between Mozart and Emmanuel Schikaneder, an actor, singer, and the manager of the Theater auf der Weiden, which was gaining popularity among the Viennese middle classes. Schikaneder suggested to Mozart that a pantomime-style comic opera would be a crowd-pleaser and potentially profitable for both of them. Mozart, facing financial strain at the time, readily agreed.
Mozart worked on the opera during the summer of 1791, which helped improve his spirits concerning his financial troubles. However, soon after starting work, he received a commission under mysterious circumstances that sparked much speculation. An anonymous request was sent to Mozart, asking him to write a requiem mass. The commission came with a condition that Mozart should not attempt to discover the identity of his patron. Despite the unusual nature of the commission, Mozart decided to accept it, considering the lucrative payment. To his surprise, Mozart also received a commission to write an opera to celebrate Emperor Leopold II’s coronation as King … ...Read the rest.
“Die Zauberflote – The Magic Flute”
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