... and exoticism as already mentioned but also magic and religion, all of which feature in The Magic Flute. We are told that Schikaneder wrote the libretto, possibly with some input from Giesecke and there is speculation that this contributed to the Masonic theme as along with Mozart they were all members of Viennese Masonic lodges. Although The Magic Flute is outwardly a Singspiel - with spoken dialogue instead of recitative and with characters and scenes appropriate to popular comedy - its action is filled with symbolic meaning and its music is so rich and profound that it ranks as the first and one of the greatest German operas. In The Magic Flute Mozart wove the threads of many eighteenth century musical ideas into new designs: the vocal opulence of Italian opera seria; the folk humour of the German singspiel; the solo aria; the buffo ensemble, which is given new musical ...

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