The Magic Flute, Quarantined

Need to Know

The Magic Flute was Mozart’s last opera, premiering in 1791, about 3 months before he died at the age of 35. He conducted the orchestra and the librettist, Emanuel Schikaneder, sang the role of Papageno.

The Magic Flute is a “Singspiel” which in German means sing-play. There is often spoken dialogue between musical ensembles, duets, and arias and many are strophic and folk-like. The plots are generally comic or romantic and use elements of magic and fantasy.

Want to know more about Mozart? Check out our other Quarantine Page for Don Giovanni and also check out these facts from Connolly Music.

Don’t make the Queen mad!

One of the most memorable moments in The Magic Flute comes in Act II, when the Queen of the Night sings, “Der Hölle Rache” (Hell’s vengeance boils in my heart) and exhorts her daughter Pamina to kill Sarastro. This rage aria is memorable, fast, and extremely high; few sopranos have the range to take on the role.

Compare these famous sopranos take on the aria: Damrau, Petibon, Deutekom, Serra, Dessay

Hidden Symbolism in The Magic Flute

It is no secret that Mozart was an active member of the Freemason fraternal order. His opera, The Magic Flute is filled with symbolism from the secret order, including the number 3, which comes up throughout the opera, 3 ladies of the Queen of the Night, 3 Spirits, and the opera is often set in E flat major, which has 3 flats. In addition, Tamino must over come the trials of fire and water to become enlightened and save the world from darkness.

Here is a 5 minute TED talk video highlighting some of Mozart’s hidden messages in the opera.

Here is a great article from the San Francisco Opera Education department, giving more details to the history of Freemasons and Mozart’s involvement, specifically in regards to The Magic Flute.

Let the Sunrise!

In The Magic Flute, good triumphs over evil, light over darkness, to celebrate, your pre-opera cocktail is the classic Tequila Sunrise. Watch John build the cocktail here.

Ingredients: 2 oz Tequila, 4 oz. orange juice, 1/4 oz grenadine, Orange Slice for garnish, cherry for garnish. Directions: Add tequila and orange juice to a highball glass filled with ice, top with grenadine which will sink to the bottom of the glass. Garnish with Orange slice and Cherries. Enjoy!