The Magic Flute (German Die Zauberflöte, K. 620) is an opera in two acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspiel, a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue.
The opera was premiered in Vienna on September 30, 1791, at the suburban Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden.[1] Mozart conducted the orchestra, Schikaneder himself played Papageno, while the role of the Queen of the Night was sung by Mozart's sister-in-law Josepha Hofer.
Of reception of the opera, Mozart scholar Maynard Solomon writes:
"Although there were no reviews of the first performances, it was immediately evident that Mozart and Schikaneder had achieved a great success, the opera drawing immense crowds and reaching hundreds of performances during the 1790s.
The success of The Magic Flute lifted the spirits of its composer, who had fallen ill while in Prague a few weeks before. Solomon continues:
"Mozart's delight is reflected in his last three letters, written to Constanze, who with her sister Sophie was spending the second week of October in Baden. 'I have this moment returned from the opera, which was as full as ever,' he wrote on 7 October, listing the numbers that had to be encored. 'But what always gives me the most pleasure is the silent approval! You can see how this opera is becoming more and more esteemed.' ... He went to hear his opera almost every night, taking along [friends and] relatives."
The opera celebrated its 100th performance in November 1792. Mozart did not have the pleasure of witnessing this milestone, having died of his illness on December 5, 1791.
Since its premiere "The Magic Flute" has always been one of the most beloved works in the operatic repertoire, and is presently the tenth most frequently performed opera in North America.
Of reception of the opera, Mozart scholar Maynard Solomon writes:
"Although there were no reviews of the first performances, it was immediately evident that Mozart and Schikaneder had achieved a great success, the opera drawing immense crowds and reaching hundreds of performances during the 1790s.
The success of The Magic Flute lifted the spirits of its composer, who had fallen ill while in Prague a few weeks before. Solomon continues:
"Mozart's delight is reflected in his last three letters, written to Constanze, who with her sister Sophie was spending the second week of October in Baden. 'I have this moment returned from the opera, which was as full as ever,' he wrote on 7 October, listing the numbers that had to be encored. 'But what always gives me the most pleasure is the silent approval! You can see how this opera is becoming more and more esteemed.' ... He went to hear his opera almost every night, taking along [friends and] relatives."
The opera celebrated its 100th performance in November 1792. Mozart did not have the pleasure of witnessing this milestone, having died of his illness on December 5, 1791.
Since its premiere "The Magic Flute" has always been one of the most beloved works in the operatic repertoire, and is presently the tenth most frequently performed opera in North America.
