The Magic Flute ''The Magic Flute'' (German: , ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a ''Singspiel'', a popular form during the time it was written that inclu ...

'', an opera by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

with libretto by

Emanuel Schikaneder Emanuel Schikaneder (born Johann Joseph Schickeneder; 1 September 1751 – 21 September 1812) was a German impresario, dramatist, actor, singer, and composer. He wrote the libretto of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera ''The Magic Flute'' and was t ...

, was composed in 1791 and premiered to great success. It has been an important part of the operatic repertory ever since, and has inspired a great number of sequels, adaptations, novels, films, artwork, and musical compositions.

Sequels in literature and theatre

There are two sequels named ''The Magic Flute Part Two''. The first is a fragment by

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German poet, playwright, novelist, scientist, statesman, theatre director, and critic. His works include plays, poetry, literature, and aesthetic criticism, as well as trea ...

, which was intended to be set to music by

Paul Wranitzky Paul Wranitzky (Czech: Pavel Vranický, 30 December 1756 – 29 September 1808) was a Moravian-Austrian classical composer. His half brother, Antonín, was also a composer. Life Wranitzky was born in Neureisch ( Nová Říše) in Habsburg Mora ...

. The second was sponsored by Emanuel Schikaneder himself, the opera, ''

Das Labyrinth ("The Labyrinth or The Struggle with the Elements. The Magic Flute's Second Part") is a "grand heroic-comic opera" in two acts composed in 1798 by Peter von Winter to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspi ...

oder Der Kampf mit den Elementen'' (The Labyrinth or The Struggle with the Elements), a

Singspiel A Singspiel (; plural: ; ) is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera. It is characterized by spoken dialogue, which is alternated with ensembles, songs, ballads, and arias which were often strophic, or folk-like ...

in two acts composed in 1798 by

Peter von Winter Peter Winter, later Peter von Winter, (baptised 28 August 1754 – 17 October 1825) was a German violinist, conductor and composer, especially of operas. He began his career as a player at the Mannheim court, and advanced to conductor. When the ...

to a German libretto by Schikaneder.

Adaptations of Mozart's music by other composers

* "Away with Melancholy" was a popular duet first published in London in the early 1790s, and reprinted in America from 1797 on. The music is adapted from the episode in the act 1 finale in which Monostatos and his slaves, enchanted by the music from Papageno's magic bells, dance off the stage, leaving Papageno and Pamina in freedom. *

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classical ...

wrote sets of variations for violoncello and piano for two numbers from the opera. His twelve variations in F major on "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen" (1796) is catalogued as Op. 66 and his seven variations in E-flat major on "Bei Männern" (1801) is catalogued as WoO 46. *''Les Mystères d'Isis,'' French adaptation of the opera by

Ludwig Wenzel Lachnith Ludwig Wenzel Lachnith (Prague, 7 July 1746 – Paris, 3 October 1820) was a Bohemian horn player and versatile composer influenced by Joseph Haydn and Ignaz Pleyel. Today he is chiefly remembered because of his adaptations of operas by Wolfgang ...

, represented for the first time in Paris in 1801. Production run for 130 subsequent performances till 1827. *

Christian Gottlob Neefe Christian Gottlob Neefe (; 5 February 1748 – 28 January 1798) was a German opera composer and conductor. He was known as one of the first teachers of Ludwig van Beethoven. Life and career Neefe was born in Chemnitz, Saxony. He received a m ...

, one of Beethoven's teachers, wrote a set of piano variations on the March of the Priests. *

Johann Nepomuk Hummel Johann Nepomuk Hummel (14 November 177817 October 1837) was an Austrian composer and virtuoso pianist. His music reflects the Transition from Classical to Romantic music, transition from the Classical period (music), Classical to the Romantic ...

arranged the overture for piano. *

Daniel Steibelt Daniel Gottlieb Steibelt (October 22, 1765) was a German pianist and composer. His main works were composed in Paris and in London, and he died in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Biography Steibelt was born in Berlin, and studied music with Johann K ...

wrote piano variations on "Bei Männern". *

Josepha Barbara Auernhammer Josepha Barbara Auernhammer (25 September 1758 – 30 January 1820) was an Austrian pianist and composer. Biography Auernhammer was born in Vienna, the eleventh of fifteen children born to Johann Michael Auernhammer and Elisabeth (nee Timmer, o ...

, a former student of Mozart, wrote a set of variations for piano on Papageno's aria ''"Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja". *

Johann Baptist Cramer Johann (sometimes John) Baptist Cramer (24 February 1771 – 16 April 1858) was an English pianist, composer and music publisher of German origin. He was the son of Wilhelm Cramer, a famous London violinist and conductor, one of a numerous family ...

wrote a set of piano variations on Papageno's aria ''Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen wünscht Papageno sich''. *

Mikhail Glinka Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka ( rus, link=no, Михаил Иванович Глинка, Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka., mʲɪxɐˈil ɪˈvanəvʲɪdʑ ˈɡlʲinkə, Ru-Mikhail-Ivanovich-Glinka.ogg; ) was the first Russian composer to gain wide recogni ...

wrote a set of piano variations on the glockenspiel theme from the finale to act 1 ("Das klinget so herrlich, das klinget so schön"). * Guitarist and composer

Fernando Sor Fernando Sor (bapt. 14 Feb. 1778, died 10 July 1839) was a Spanish classical guitarist and composer of the Romantic music, Early Romantic era. Best known for writing solo classical guitar music, he also composed an opera (at the age of 19), thr ...

transcribed "Six Airs from ''The Magic Flute''", Op. 19, for solo guitar around 1820–1821 and wrote his Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 9, on the music from act 1 sung by Monostatos and the slaves, or as Sor called it, "". * The Canadian

national anthem A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and European n ...

, "

O Canada "O Canada" (french: Ô Canada, italic=no) is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the mus ...

", by

Calixa Lavallée Calixa Lavallée (December 28, 1842 – January 21, 1891) was a French-Canadian-American musician and Union Army band musician during the American Civil War. He is best known for composing the music for "O Canada," which officially became the n ...

(1880) has been noticed for its resemblance to the "March of the Priests" that begins the second act. * Flautists Jean-Pierre Rampal and

Claudi Arimany Claudi Arimany i Barceló (born in Granollers, Catalonia, December 29, 1955) is an internationald flautist, considered the direct heir, both in interpretative style and in musical concept, of Jean-Pierre Rampal, his mentor and colleague in many con ...

have recorded duet arrangements from the opera made by Gerhard Braun. * Spanish composer

Pablo de Sarasate Pablo Martín Melitón de Sarasate y Navascués (; 10 March 1844 – 20 September 1908), commonly known as Pablo de Sarasate, was a Spanish (Navarrese) violin virtuoso, composer and conductor of the Romantic period. His best known works include ...

wrote a violin showpiece, "Fantasy on ''Die Zeuberflöte''", Op. 54 (1908). * British composer

Jonathan Dove Jonathan Dove (born 18 July 1959) is an English composer of opera, choral works, plays, films, and orchestral and chamber music. He has arranged a number of operas for English Touring Opera and the City of Birmingham Touring Opera (now Birmin ...

wrote a flute concerto ''The Magic Flute Dances''. * Composer Robert Fobbes wrote "Fantasy on Mozart's ''Die Zauberflöte''" (The Magic Flute), for flute and orchestra. * American composer Jasper Gilley wrote a solo piano showpiece, "Reminiscences on ''Die Zauberflöte''", which was partially inspired by

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt, in modern usage ''Liszt Ferenc'' . Liszt's Hungarian passport spelled his given name as "Ferencz". An orthographic reform of the Hungarian language in 1922 (which was 36 years after Liszt's death) changed the letter "cz" to simpl ...

's ''

Réminiscences de Don Juan ''Réminiscences de Don Juan'' (S. 418) is an opera fantasy for piano by Franz Liszt on themes from Mozart's 1787 opera '' Don Giovanni''. It is extremely technically demanding and considered to be among the most taxing of Liszt's works and ...

''. * The

Children of Bodom Children of Bodom was a Finnish melodic death metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993 as Inearthed, the final line-up of the group upon their split in 2019 consisted of Alexi Laiho (lead guitar, lead vocals), Jaska Raatikainen (drums), Henkka Sep ...

song "Hatebreeder" (1999) features a short solo referencing "

Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen "" ("Hell's vengeance boils in my heart"), commonly abbreviated "", is an aria sung by the Queen of the Night, a coloratura soprano part, in the second act of Mozart's opera ''The Magic Flute'' ('). It depicts a fit of vengeful rage in which the ...

Art

* In 1986, the

Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is operat ...

of New York commissioned a poster from

Graciela Rodo Boulanger Graciela Rodo (born 1935 in La Paz) is a Bolivian painter. She is noted for her artworks featuring stylized renderings of children. Early life Her love of art was influenced by her mother, a concert pianist, and her father, a businessman and art ...

for ''The Magic Flute''. * Eduardo Paolozzi created a screenprint illustrating the arrival of the Queen of the Night in act 2, ''Magic Flute II'' in 1994. * In 2018, publisher EVIL TENDER debuted its Opera Print Series with a limited edition screenprint for ''The Magic Flute'' by illustrator Jonathan Burton.

Films

* ''Papageno'' (1935), a

silhouette animation Silhouette animation is animation in which the characters are only visible as black silhouettes. This is usually accomplished by backlighting articulated cardboard cut-outs, though other methods exist. It is partially inspired by, but for a numb ...

short film by Lotte Reiniger, loosely based on ''The Magic Flute'' * ' (1946), a short animated film directed by

Paul Grimault Paul Grimault (; 23 March 1905 – 29 March 1994) was one of the most important French animators. He made many traditionally animated films that were delicate in style, satirical, and lyrical in nature. His most important work is ''Le Roi et l' ...

. * '' Trollflöjten'' (''The Magic Flute'') (1975), a filmed production of the opera, sung in Swedish and directed by

Ingmar Bergman Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film director, screenwriter, Film producer, producer and playwright. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, his films are known ...

* ''The Magic Flute'' (1994), an animated television film produced by

Ruby-Spears Productions Ruby-Spears Productions (also known as Ruby-Spears Enterprises) was a Burbank, California–based American entertainment production company that specialized in animation with another branch in Rome, Italy. This company was founded in 1977 by vete ...

, DIC Entertainment and Greengrass Productions, which aired as part of the ''

ABC Weekend Specials ''ABC Weekend Special'' is a weekly 30-minute American television anthology series for children that aired Saturday mornings on ABC from 1977 to 1997, which featured a wide variety of stories that were both live-action and animated. Similar to bo ...

'' series. * ''The Magic Flute'' (1995), a traditional animation film directed by Valeriy Ugarov for the series '' Operavox'', set to a half-hour, English-language version * ''

'' (2006), the opera sung in English and set against a background inspired by

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, directed by Kenneth Branagh, screenplay by Stephen Fry *'' Magic Flute Diaries'' (2008), a modern story about singers in a production of ''The Magic Flute'' whose lives loosely parallel those of the opera's main characters. The film also includes excerpts from the opera itself performed by

Opera Atelier Opera Atelier is an opera company located in Toronto, Canada. It was founded in 1985 by husband and wife Marshall Pynkoski and Jeannette Lajeunesse Zingg. The company mounts baroque operas from the 17th and 18th centuries that are presented in venu ...

. * ''Masonic Mysteries'', an episode of the British TV series " Inspector Morse", which uses the opera as its central theme.

Books

* Dickinson, G. Lowes's ''The Magic Flute: A Poetic Fantasy'', 1920, reinterprets the story as a parable of civilization after

. * Updike, John, ''The Magic Flute'', a children's book based on the opera with illustrations by Warren Chappell. A. A. Knopf, 1962. * Ibbotson, Eva, ''Magic Flutes'' (1982), a teen romance period novel, centred around the Viennese opera, and the main performance of ''The Magic Flute'' * Bradley, Marion Zimmer, ''Night's Daughter'', a novel based on ''The Magic Flute'', 1985. It sets the story in an Atlantis-like world with human-animal hybrid creatures. Bradley enthusiastically agrees with Bergman that Sarastro is Pamina's father. * Russell, P. Craig's ''The Magic Flute'', a graphic novel published in 1990 as part of the author's Library of Operatic Adaptation. * Trapido, Barbara, ''Temples of Delight'' (1990). A novel which, though set in contemporary England, takes its structure very loosely from ''The Magic Flute''. Characters in the novel are analogous to Pamina, Tamino, Papageno and Sarastro although the novel strays heavily from the original plot with the 'Pamina' character ultimately rejecting 'Tamino' in favour of a romantic relationship with 'Sarastro'. * Dokey, Cameron, ''Sunlight and Shadow'', (part of the ''Once Upon A Time'' series), 2004, a retelling of ''The Magic Flute'' for teen readers; Dokey's novel also states that Sarastro is Pamina's father. * Amano, Yoshitaka, ''Mateki: The Magic Flute'' (2008), an adaptation of the opera illustrated by himself and retold using classic Japanese elements. * Luisa Perkins's contemporary fantasy novel ''Summersong'' (2021) is a retelling of ''The Magic Flute'' set in modern-day New York among a reclusive people called the Volant.

Plays

Thomas Bernhard Nicolaas Thomas Bernhard (; 9 February 1931 – 12 February 1989) was an Austrian novelist, playwright and poet who explored death, social injustice, and human misery in controversial literature that was deeply pessimistic about modern civilizati ...

's 1972 play, ' (''The Ignoramus and the Madman''), takes place before, during and after a performance of the opera, at which the prima donna decides to make this, her 222nd performance of the Queen of the Night, her last.

Adaptations

* Susan Hammonnd and publisher ''The Children's Group'' (now part of Linus Entertainment) published an arrangement called ''Classical Kids: Mozart's Magic Fantasy''. The story adds a new protagonist - the daughter of the actress playing the Queen of the Night - who brings the flute with her onto the stage and gets stuck in the story. The album received the 1991 Juno Award for Children's Album of the Year. * In 1995, the pianist

Joanna MacGregor Joanna Clare MacGregor (born 16 July 1959) is a British concert pianist, conductor, composer, and festival curator. She is Head of Piano at the Royal Academy of Music and a professor of the University of London. She is currently artistic direc ...

made an arrangement of the opera aimed at children aged 7 and above, premiered at the Unicorn Theatre in London. The action was condensed, the orchestral score was rearranged for a

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numb ...

including piano, and the plot updated; Tamino is a journalist (aided by the three boys), Sarastro a millionaire

environmentalist An environmentalist is a person who is concerned with and/or advocates for the protection of the environment. An environmentalist can be considered a supporter of the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that se ...

, the Queen of the Night a failed rock-star formerly married to Sarastro (Pamina is their daughter), and Papageno the Queen's former roadie. The production has been frequently restaged, including at the

Bath International Music Festival The Bath International Music Festival was held late each spring in Bath, South West England between 1948 and 2016. The festival included many genres such as Jazz, Classical, World and Folk and merged with the Bath Literature Festival in 2017 to ...

in 2012. * ''Pamina Devi'' is a 2006 dance adaptation of ''The Magic Flute'' by

Sophiline Cheam Shapiro Sophiline Cheam Shapiro ( km, ឝភីរោ ជាម សុភិលីន; born 1967) is a Cambodian dancer, choreographer, and educator. Early life At the age of eight, Shapiro was forced to live in the countryside of Cambodia after her fam ...

, originally directed by

Peter Sellars Peter Sellars (born September 27, 1957) is an American theatre director, noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and contemporary operas and plays. Sellars is professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where ...

, in the style of

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand t ...

n classical dance. It is not entirely based on the same plot and includes elements foreign to the original.Gia Kourlas
"Mozart Tale With Accent of Cambodia"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', 11 October 2007, accessed 29 December 2014. *'' The Magic Flute (Impempe Yomlingo)'' is a 2007 adaptation of the opera as musical theatre. Set in contemporary South Africa, the musical re-interprets the story from a South African perspective. Mozart's score is transposed for an orchestra of marimbas, drums and township percussion."SA musical wins prestigious Laurence Olivier Award"
''South Africa: The Good News'', 13 March 2008

Psychology

The Papageno effect is the effect that mass media can have by presenting non-suicide alternatives to crises. The character Papageno was contemplating suicide until other characters showed him a different way to resolve his problems.

References

{{The Magic Flute Works based on The Magic Flute