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Thu, 01 Jun 2006

Mozart: Die Zauberflote

Mozart, Die Zauberflote (Magic Flute)
Dorothea Roschmann, Erika Miklosa,
Christopher Strehl, Rene Pape, Hanno Muller-Brachmann
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
Claudio Abbado
2 CD's, Deutsche Grammophon

More Mozart! And that has to be a good thing even when it isn't the anniversary of his birthday. You might remember also that this opera contains the famous high C section which only a very sopranos can perform. It is also the most performed of Mozart's operas.

It has also been controversial with some people talking of the elements of freemasonry which appear -- something that wouldn't have been very popular with Mozart's masters had they cottoned on. You can read up on this aspect (and others) at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Zauberflšte if you care to. In any case, there are many scholars who dispute the masonic message thesis and some who find it laughable.

Die Zauberflote is a Singspiel and was concieved as a crowd pleasing composition that would also hopefully lift the audience's taste levels. Its elements of magic and allegory have pleased audiences ever since.

And this is a pleasing performance nicely captured. (Baron K)

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