MOZART - Die Zauberflöte
Mozart was an enthusiastic freemason: as well as the famous masonic funeral music, he wrote various songs and cantatas for ceremonial use, while a number of his other works have masonic connections. The longest and greatest of these is Die Zauberflöte, a masonic work starting with the symbolism of its very opening chords. And it was Mozart’s special genius to be able to work his masonic purpose all within an ostensible pantomime commissioned by the director of the Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna, Emanuel Schikaneder (who would take the role of Papageno). Die Zauberflöte was first performed there on 30 September 1791; just over two months later Mozart was dead. This recording was made in 1972 and features Peter Schreier and Anneliese Rothenberger as Tamino and Pamina, Walter Berry as Papageno, Edda Moser as the Queen and Kurt Moll as Sarastro; Wolfgang Sawallisch conducts the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.

0946 3 58607 2 6 (2CDs)
0946 3 58607 5 7 (Digital Download)