The Magic Flute: No. 3 (English National Opera Guide) - Softcover

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus; Schikaneder, Emanuel; Giesecke, Karl Ludwig; Geliot, Michael; Besch, Anthony

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714537683 ISBN 13: 9780714537689

Publisher: Calder Publications Ltd, 1989

Synopsis

The English National Opera Guides were originally conceived in partnership with the English National Opera and edited by Nicholas John, the ENO's dramaturg, who died tragically in an accident in the Alps. Most of the guides are devoted to a single opera, which is described in detail?with many articles that cover its history and information about the composer and his times. The complete libretto is included in both the original language and in a modern singing translation?except where the opera was written in English. Each has a thematic guide to the most important musical themes in musical notation and each guide is lavishly illustrated. They also contain a bibliography and a discography which is updated at each reprint. The ENO guides are widely regarded as the best series of their kind and excellent value.

About this title

Review

"A beautiful treat for the eyes...and the imagination."

From the Back Cover

..".it is the evident quiet approbation which best pleases me! It is apparent that this opera is rising rapidly and steadily in estimation."--Mozart, letter to his wife, October 7-8, 1791.
Unfortunately, his tragic death a scant two months later prevented Mozart from ever realizing the full accuracy of this observation, made a few performances after the cool reception given The Magic Flute at its Viennese premiere.
In May 1791, Mozart's friend Emanuel Schikaneder commissioned The Magic Flute. In keeping with the popular level of this theater, Schikaneder himself supplied Mozart with the libretto about the rescue of a good fairy's daughter from a wicked magician by a hero armed with a magic flute. After a good deal of the music was written, the composer and librettist--both Freemasons--grafted Masonic ideals onto the plot, transforming a simple fairy tale into a moralistic allegory and a Singspiel into one of the world's greatest operas.
This handsome, moderately priced volume, reprinted directly form an authoritative edition, will enable musicians, music students, and opera lovers to gain a fuller appreciation of Mozart's mastery of operatic language, orchestral color, and dramatic expression. A helpful feature of this edition is the inclusion of all spoken dialog, usually abbreviated in other editions.

Edition details

• Publisher: Calder Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0714537683
• ISBN 13: 9780714537689
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96