The Magic Flute, Opera by W. A. Mozart
Viennese farce combines with the world of fantasy, buffoonery meets the Enlightenment. The opera, first performed on September 30th, 1791 at the "Theater des Freihauses auf der Wieden" (where the Wiedner Hauptstraße starts today), it was a huge success and played to full houses for many years. The main beneficiary of this success was Emanuel Schikaneder, librettist, director and actor (in the role of Papageno). On Oktober 7th, 1791 Mozart wrote to his wife Constanze who was on a health cure in Baden: "Dearest Wife, I have just returned from the opera. It was as full as ever. The "Mann und Weib" duet and the bells in the first act were repeated as usual, as was the Boys' trio in the second act. The opera appears to be becoming more and more popular...”. Unfortunately Mozart was not able to enjoy the success of the "Magic Flute" for very long – he died nine weeks after the première.
The version is adapted to the location and to the possibilities of puppet theatre.
Directed by: Prof. Gerhard Tötschinger
Set design and costume design: Erika Schmitzer-Ebner
Music editing: Werner Hierzer