Die Zauberfloete (The Magic Flute)

Die Zauberflöte premiered in Vienna in 1791 and has become one of Mozart's most enduring works, combining ethereal music with earthy comedy to convey a message of hope for a better world. This guide provides background and analysis, musical examples, and historical information, with illustrations, a thematic guide, a discography, a bibliography, and DVD and website guides. It is a perfect companion for opera-goers wishing to extend their understanding and increase their enjoyment of the work.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 21 February 2019
Publisher: Alma Books Ltd

Die Zauberflöte, a masterpiece by Mozart, premiered at the Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna on September 30, 1791, just ten weeks before his untimely death. This enduringly popular opera has enchanted generations of opera-goers of all ages with its ethereal music and earthy comedy, conveying a message of hope for a better world. In this comprehensive guide, Nicholas Till delves into the opera's background and genesis, placing it at the intersection of the Enlightenment and the beginnings of German Romanticism. Julian Rushton offers a detailed analysis of the score, highlighting its many delights with numerous musical examples. Hugo Shirley explores the various and often bizarre permutations that the opera has undergone on stage since its earliest performances, through to the present day. The guide includes the complete German libretto with a new English translation by Kenneth Chalmers, as well as sixteen pages of illustrations, a musical thematic guide, a discography, a bibliography, and DVD and website guides. It serves as a perfect companion for opera-goers seeking to deepen their understanding and enhance their enjoyment of this cherished work.

Weight: 330g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781847498052