What does it mean....

[svizzerams]

Ah, Die Zauberflöte. Fun stuff. Lovely music. Not the best theatrical work ever written, but definitely worth your time.

Papageno is the name of the bird-catcher, yorick. Schikaneder, an impressario and popular actor at the time, wrote the libretto and played the role of Papageno.

Sviz, I hope you have some recordings of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson singing Handel?

I didn't have Lieberson singing Handel...but I do now (thank you iTunes).

I used to have a season ticket for the Seattle Opera, but with my goofy work schedule I dropped it for the past 5 years...

Music: my mind altering substance of choice.

[shivers]

And was it Emperor Franz Joseph I or II who banned Mozart's opera circa 1795, i forget which - yet clearly recall the reason bein much the same game media censorship plays today.


(;=

I was not aware of it being banned circa 1795. That was long after it's premier in September 1791.

[yorick]

Yep, political currents changed and couple of his operas were banned including Die Zalberflote(sp?). Lets ask ourselves why...

Question of symbolism that trespassed upon the occult. Look to the script and reconnoitre it tells the song of life and liberty struggling against the interferences of overlord rule - seeking instaed its own ballance and harmony under natural law. Transmigration of the soul.

1790's were intensely spiritual times with Tinfoil Hat Clubs springing up all over Europe. Paris where Mozart spent his earlier years was extremely volatile on spiritual levels and soon to erupt a few decades later. Vienna early on was esoteric ground zero wherein chartered alliances were formed that continue to operate at this time.

Music: my mind altering substance of choice.

Y'all gifted ther - rare uncommon beauty exists in every tune and the more complex/classical based the better. Am reminded of my love for playing Scott Joplin synchopated cut-time melodies on noisy saxophone outdoors here at Kentucky wilderness. Disturbed lots of critters including racoons and squirrels who would often holler back.

Something I'd recommend to everybody who feels even remotely musically inclined and likes to camp outdoors - play the instrument of yer choice (harmonica, banjo, recorder, whatever) as loud as ye like anywhere in outback woods and YES observe the response of birds, chipmunks, wild critters in the neighborhood sharing the serenade.



(:=

[svizzerams]

Wasn't Mozart a Mason? My understanding is that there is a lot of masonic symbolism in the Magic Flute opera.

[svizzerams]

dang...no edit function here. I don't know much about the Masons except we have a lot of nice Masonic Temples in these parts - seems almost every little town has one, or a building that used to be one.

As for instruments I used to play flute and have played the piano, albeit, without much skill. Loving music doesn't seem to translate into having an aptitude for producing it skillfully. I think it comes from an innate selfconsciousness and concern about making errors.

[Wayne]

Precision is a pretty good trait for a Pharmacist to have.

[shivers]

Yep, Mozart & Schikaneder were both Masons.

[svizzerams]

Here's something quite lovely and fun:

http://www.magicflutefilm.com/

[Wayne]

Whoa.

And I thought his version of "Henry V" was an accomplishment.