Singspiel in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder
Produced by Fondazione Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova
Soloists from Accademia di alto perfezionamento e inserimento professionale of Opera Carlo Felice Genova directed by Francesco Meli
Concertmaster and conductor
Giancarlo Andretta
Director
Daniele Abbado
Set designer
Lele Luzzati
Costume designer
Santuzza Calì
Lighting design
Luciano Novelli
Orchestra, choir and technicians of Opera Carlo Felice Genova
Claudio Marino Moretti, choirsmaster
Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), composed in 1790, is the second Singspiel in Mozart’s catalogue after The Rape from the Seraglio in 1780. The proposal to compose this title came from the Viennese singer and impresario Emanuel Schikaneder, who also wrote the libretto. Although the plot had originally been elaborated from Wieland’s novella Lulu oder die Zauberflöte, there were several substantial modifications made by the librettist, who gathered numerous other literary, philosophical and spiritual influences. Schikaneder, together with Mozart, his fellow Freemason, drew inspiration from various rituals typical of Freemasonry, emphasising, for example, the polarisation between Good (impersonated by Sarastro, High Priest of the Kingdom of Wisdom) and Evil (Astrifiammante, the Queen of Night). The Masonic-oriental subtext becomes fundamental, so much so that the story becomes a true initiatory journey of the protagonist Tamino towards the values of beauty and wisdom. The first performance, conducted by Mozart himself, took place at the Theater auf der Wieden on 30 September 1971. It was a great success that soon led to numerous revivals. The Magic Flute summarises all the most significant aspects of 18th century opera, both stylistically and formally. Because of this and because of its experimental and innovative character, the opera soon established itself as one of Mozart’s most influential works, particularly with regard to developments in German romantic opera.
