Hi everyone! I have been in fabulous New York City this week! Did you know that Broadway pit orchestra members often have to play multiple woodwind instruments? Instead of “flute” parts, musicians often have a “reed” book, requiring them to frequently switch between flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, and/or saxophone! Phew! I wasn’t able to catch an opera or ballet, but I saw the Metropolitan Opera house, so I thought I would give a quick rundown of one of the most famous operas for our favorite instrument–Mozart’s The Magic Flute!
The Magic Flute is an opera in two acts that is set in the Singspiel style, meaning there is both spoken word and singing during the show. The work premiered on 30 September 1791 at Schikaneder’s theatre, the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna. It waz one of Mozart’s last works, written during his last year. The opera was adapted from a tale by Christoph Martin Wieland titled “Lulu, oder die Zauberflöte” (“Lulu, or the Magic Flute”). Many of the singing roles, especially the Queen of the Night, are notoriously difficult. Since its premiere, The Magic Flute has always been one of the most beloved works in the operatic repertoire, and is presently the fourth most frequently performed opera world wide.
Have you seen The Magic Flute performed live? Let me know about it!