Magic Flute

Otto Klemperer brings his customary nobility of conception to Die Zauberflöte, with its symbolic drama, and is joined by an exceptional cast. Gundula Janowitz sings Pamina with sublime beauty and the young Lucia Popp is brilliant as the Queen of the Night, the role that first made her reputation.

After being forced out of his Soviet-occupied home in Bukovina (Chernivtsi), Radu Paladi (1927-2013) proved an exceptional talent, whether as a composer, pianist, conductor or lecturer. In the 1950s, a time that was particularly tricky both politically and artistically, Radu Paladi managed to find his artistic path and distinctive voice, incorporating and elevating Romanian folklore in his highly elaborate compositional style to fascinating effect. His music, combining depth, brilliance and vitality, spoke to listeners with an immediacy that made hearing his music an exhilarating experience.

After being forced out of his Soviet-occupied home in Bukovina (Chernivtsi), Radu Paladi (1927-2013) proved an exceptional talent, whether as a composer, pianist, conductor or lecturer. In the 1950s, a time that was particularly tricky both politically and artistically, Radu Paladi managed to find his artistic path and distinctive voice, incorporating and elevating Romanian folklore in his highly elaborate compositional style to fascinating effect. His music, combining depth, brilliance and vitality, spoke to listeners with an immediacy that made hearing his music an exhilarating experience.

Genre: Classic/Opera | Size: 210mb | Format: mp3 | Bitrate: 192kb/s

Mozart wrote "The Magic Flute" in 1791, just after the French Revolution and just before he died. Haydn had introduced Mozart to Freemasonry, and the opera is full of the ideas (the autonomy of the individual, self-determination, appalling sexism), the ideals (power, wisdom, beauty), and the symbols (aprons, hammers, compasses, a pyramid with an all-seeing eye) of the Masons. Rituals, tests, initiations come into play.
Out of all operas I love Mozart's "The Magic Flute" the best. The opera seems a miracle in itself and one of the greatest blessings to the world of music. Everything is so perfect…

SOMM Recordings is delighted to announce the label debuts of two exciting young Slovenian soloists flautist Boris Bizjak and violinist Lana Trotovek and 2015 Wigmore Hall String Quartet Competition winners, the Piatti Quartet. They come together for revelatory performances of six pieces for flute, violin and string quartet elements by Frank Anton Hoffmeister, all receiving their first recordings. Now overshadowed by his illustrious contemporaries, Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven (music by all whom, including the Diabelli Variations, he published), Hoffmeister was himself a prolific composer in every form. Although the flute is often placed centre-stage in these six works, all demonstrate Hoffmeisters eloquently proportioned, life-enhancing and integrated feeling for chamber music. The two most substantial works here are a taut, dramatically urgent Quartet for flute, violin, viola and cello in C minor, and an E-flat major Quintet for flute, violin, two violas and cello of Mozartian mien and mood. With echoes of Gluck, Mozart and Haydn, two Trios for flute, violin and cello (in B-flat major and D major) and a Duetto in G major for flute and violin offer superbly expressive examples of Hoffmeisters music at its most effusive and engagingly virtuosic.

The Magic Flute was written in 1791, the year of Mozart's death. Although overwhelmed by many adversities, Mozart found great joy in working on an opera for Schikaneder's Theater auf der Wieden, in the suburbs of Vienna, which catered to unsophisticated audiences. The Magic Flute has been called a Masonic opera: both librettist and composer were Masons, and the opera abounds with Masonic symbolism, culminating in the triumph over light over darkness. Although the Masonic flavor of The Magic Flute is undeniable, what makes it a great work of art is Mozart's unique ability to translate his humanistic ideals into music of extraordinary beauty and evocativeness. The fundamental theme of this opera is love, a theme to which Mozart fully dedicates his entire genius. To the listener, Mozart's ode to love brings eighteenth century opera in its full splendor. Not only is the music, which includes sparkling arias, charming buffo scenes, and ensembles of transcendent beauty, enchanting and invigorating, but it also effectively coalesces with the story to create a powerful, convincing work of art. ~ All Music Guide