The Magic Flute

As a choral organization, we feel it is only right to give a shout-out to Herr Mozart....

On this day in 1791 Mozart's revered opera, The Magic Flute premiered in Vienna, Austria. 

The Magic Flute is noted for its Masonic elements and Mozart himself was a Freemason. The opera is also influenced by philosophy of the Enlightenment era. The Queen of the night represents a dangerous darkening and prevention of facts and was debuted by Mozart's own sister-in-law, the virtuosic soprano Josepha Hofer. Her antagonist, Sarastro symbolizes the sovereign leader who rules with wisdom and enlightened insight.

Mozart conducted the orchestra himself. Mozart Scholar Maynard Solomon writes of the premier:

"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 1790's."