Opera Explained: Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Audiobook CD)

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Description

Opera Explained: Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Audiobook CD)

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Author: Thomson Smillie
Narrator: David Timson
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Naxos
CD Release Date: August 1, 2002
Run Time: 70 minutes

Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) almost defines a masterpiece, because it can be enjoyed on every level. It is a superb fairy story, complete with dragons, demons, a handsome prince, and a lovely maiden seriously in need of rescue; it is a political satire, social commentary, and psychological drama; it is full of tunes from the playful to the heart-stopping, jolly songs, and deeply spiritual outpourings. It is, in short, Mozart – and there is no greater compliment than that.

This disc gives us a wonderful insight into possibly the most remarkable work ever written for the stage. Beginning with an enticing overview of Mozart’s astonishing output, David Timson then takes us through The Magic Flute with infectious pleasure at every turn of genius. From the delightfully comic Papageno rudely trying to sing with his mouth full of padlock, to The Queen of the Night’s “Vengeance” aria, we enjoy the full spectrum of dramatic situations.

Opera Explained
This series introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of major operas. Using the principal themes and arias taken from the Naxos recording of the complete work, Thomson Smillie is informative yet entertaining, enabling the listener to get more from this remarkable art form.



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History

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte)

Mozart’s final opera (written before La Clemenza di Tito but first performed later) premiered in Vienna in September 1791, just weeks before the composer’s death, with Mozart conducting the orchestra from the fortepiano. A timeless fairy tale, it was a major success from the beginning and never lost its place as one of the most popular works in the repertoire. Julie Taymor’s beloved Met production opened in 2004. Its abridged English-language version, which returns in December 2013 as the company’s annual holiday presentation for families, inaugurated the Met’s Live in HD series of performance transmissions to movie theaters around the world in 2006.

 

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