Schikaneder and the Freemasons
Kate Molleson explores the relationships that shaped Mozart's life and work, looking today at the brotherhood of Freemasons.
In the final programme exploring Mozart's life through the lens of five relationships that shaped him, Kate Molleson looks at the brotherhood of the Freemasons and how they influenced Mozart’s later years. The Freemason network was an important source of commissions and loans to him but also provided some of his closest friendships - Emanuel Schikaneder among them. Schikaneder was one of the most versatile and flamboyant stage presences of the 18th century. An actor, singer, impresario, playwright, and tastemaker of popular culture - without him, The Magic Flute wouldn’t exist. In the final months of Mozart's life, he and Schikaneder created the opera together, stuffing it full of masonic codes.
Masonic funeral music in C minor, K477
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Sir Neville Marriner, conductor
Trio in E flat for clarinet viola and piano, K498 'Kegelstatt'
I. Andante
II. Menuetto
Martin Frӧst, clarinet
Antoine Tamastit, violin
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
The Magic Flute: Overture
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor
The Magic Flute: Finale (excerpt)
Daniel Behle, tenor (Tamino)
Marlis Petersen, soprano (Pamina)
Daniel Schmutzhard, baritone (Papageno)
Sunhae Im, soprano (Papagena)
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
RIAS Kammerchor
René Jacobs, conductor
Requiem in D minor. K626
IV. Offertorium 2: Hostias
V. Sanctus
VI. Benedictus
Ying Fang, soprano
Beth Taylor, mezzo-soprano
Laurence Kilsby, tenor
Alex Rosen, bass
Ensemble Pygmalion
Raphael Pichon, conductor
Produced by Megan Jones for BBC Wales Audio
Last on
Music Played
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Masonic Funeral Music, K.477
Performer: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.- WARNER CLASSICS : 2435699525.
- WARNER CLASSICS.
- 13.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Trio in E flat major 'Kegelstatt' K.498 (1st & 2nd mvt)
Performer: Gidon Kremer. Performer: Kim Kashkashian. Performer: Valery Afanassiev.- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON : 415-483-2.
- DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
- 1.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Magic Flute Overture
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.- CHANDOS : CHAN-3121.
- CHANDOS.
- 1.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Magic Flute, Act 2 (excerpt)
Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Ensemble: Berlin Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: René Jacobs.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-902068.70.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 9.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Requiem in D minor, K.626 (excerpt)
Ensemble: Ensemble Baroque Pygmalion. Conductor: Raphaël Pichon.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMM 902729.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 4.
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