Once upon a time, in the small village of Stardale, there lived a young girl named Marie. Marie was a kind-hearted and curious girl who loved to explore the magical world around her. She was especially fascinated by the idea of creating potions and spells. One day, while wandering through the lush meadows on the outskirts of the village, Marie stumbled upon a hidden garden. In the center of this enchanted garden stood a beautiful, towering oak tree. As Marie approached the tree, she noticed a small, sparkling bottle nestled in the roots.
As Marie approached the tree, she noticed a small, sparkling bottle nestled in the roots. With excitement in her eyes, Marie picked up the bottle and examined it closely. The label read "Marie's Magical Supper Dust".
Program Notes
Joannes Chrisostomus Wolfgang Gottlieb Mozart (He began to call himself Wolfgango Amadeo about 1770 and Wolfgang Amadè in 1777)
BORN: January 27, 1756. Salzburg, Austria
DIED: December 5, 1791. Vienna
COMPOSED: He wrote his opera Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) to a libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, mostly between April and July of his final year, although the opera’s Overture and its Act II March of the Priests were apparently completed later, since in his personal catalogue Mozart dated them September 28
WORLD PREMIERE: The world premiere occurred only two days after the work was entirely completed, at Vienna’s Freihaustheater auf der Wieden
US PREMIERE: The first full production in the US was mounted in New York on April 17, 1833; the Overture had, however, been played in New Orleans as early as January 1806
SFS PERFORMANCES: FIRST—October 1919. Alfred Hertz conducted. MOST RECENT—October 2008. Peter Oundjian conducted
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, and strings
DURATION: About 6 mins
THE BACKSTORY Mozart had finished almost all of The Magic Flute during the spring and early summer of 1791 when, in July, he was invited to compose an opera to Metastasio’s already much-used libretto La clemenza di Tito, for the festivities surrounding the coronation in Prague of Emperor Leopold II as King of Bohemia. He gladly accepted, plunging into a flurry of composition that continued until the eve of the performance, which took place on September 6. La clemenza di Tito enjoyed only a moderate reception at first, due in large part to deficiencies in the casting, but audiences gradually warmed to it, and its final performance, on September 30, was a resounding success.
Mozart had to enjoy this cliffhanger of a triumph from a distance, since he had returned to Vienna two weeks earlier to oversee final preparations for the premiere of The Magic Flute. This opera marked an important new path for the composer. It was the first stage work he had written for the commercial theater, rather than on commission from an aristocratic court. This realignment may have been born out of necessity. In recent years, Mozart’s principal link to the Italian-dominated Viennese court opera had been the librettist Lorenzo da Ponte. But in the spring of 1791, a series of scandals caught up with da Ponte, and the Emperor was compelled to dismiss him from his post as librettist to the royal court.
Mozart was badly in need of income, and the best way to earn serious money was through an imperial appointment (which was not likely at the moment) or a successful opera. He was already giving music lessons, playing piano recitals, and writing bushels of instrumental music, but none of this provided a sense of economic stability. Mozart’s wife was not in good health and was forced to spend the summer at the spa in Baden-Baden with their five-year-old son; and another child was due in the course of the summer. The composer had begun to borrow substantial sums and, although his condition was far from desperate, he was flirting with what could easily escalate into financial disaster.
At about this time, Mozart renewed a friendship with Emmanuel Schikaneder, a singer-actor-dancer-manager-playwright who had had regular contact with the Mozart family since 1780, when a company he directed appeared in Salzburg. Mozart’s father referred to Schikaneder as a “good honest fellow,” and the warm relationship must have only increased when, four years later, Schikaneder produced a revival of Mozart’s singspiel The Abduction from the Seraglio at Vienna’s Kärntnertor Theater, which he was by then managing. Several years later, Schikaneder re-emerged at the helm of the city’s thousand-seat Freihaustheater auf der Wieden, where he specialized in presenting lighthearted German-language singspiels, sometimes to his own librettos. His resident musical ensemble was impressive, including an orchestra of thirty-five players and a troupe of singing actors.
In crafting the libretto for The Magic Flute, Schikaneder drew on several collections of stories and fairytales popular in Germany and Austria at the time. His audience did not embrace the new work immediately but soon fell to its charms. Finally, Mozart had a hit on his hands. If he had not died little more than two months following the premiere, The Magic Flute would doubtless have changed his life.
Schikaneder’s libretto has perplexed commentators ever since, as it effects something of an about-face halfway through the action. The heroic Tamino is sent by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter, Pamina, who she says has been kidnapped by Sarastro, her “ex,” a sort of cult leader. Tamino sets out on his mission (accompanied by Papageno, a curious being who is half-man and half-bird) but soon discovers that Sarastro is actually the good guy, that he has in fact rescued Pamina from the evil Queen. In the course of his quest, Tamino falls in love with Pamina, and the two prove their steadfastness through various trials in Sarastro’s realm before the Queen and her wicked minions are banished.
THE MUSIC There does seem to be a good deal of hocus-pocus going on in The Magic Flute, and much of it, we are told, makes sense only when one understands that the work is an allegory for Masonic beliefs and rites. Schikaneder was a Freemason, and Mozart had also joined a Masonic lodge in 1784. The number three is said to hold mystical significance to Freemasons. Accordingly, the overriding key of The Magic Flute is E-flat major, with three flats in the key signature, and the Overture opens with a grand proclamation of each of the three notes of the tonic triad. Following this grave introduction, the orchestra skips off in a gleeful, fugal Allegro, only to be interrupted by another solemn proclamation of the three chords (this time in the dominant key of B-flat). The remainder of the Overture is notable for Mozart’s brilliant use of counterpoint and dynamic contrasts, building a considerably more complex piece than one might expect from what is really only a single theme.
—James M. Keller
This note originally appeared in different form in the program books of the New York Philharmonic, and is reprinted with permission. Copyright © New York Philharmonic.
MORE ABOUT THE MUSIC
Recordings: Colin Davis conducting the Dresden Staatskapelle (RCA Red Seal) | Neville Marriner conducting the Academy of St Martin in the Fields (EMI Classics Encore)
Reading: 1791: Mozart’s Last Year, by H.C. Robbins Landon (Schirmer Books) | Mozart: A Musical Biography, by Konrad Küster (Oxford University Press) | Mozart: A Cultural Biography, by Robert W. Gutman (Harcourt) | The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia, edited by Cliff Eisen and Simon P. Keeffe (Cambridge University Press) | The Mozart Compendium: A Guide to Mozart’s Life and Music, edited by H.C. Robbins Landon (Schirmer)
In crafting the libretto for The Magic Flute, Schikaneder drew on several collections of stories and fairytales popular in Germany and Austria at the time. His audience did not embrace the new work immediately but soon fell to its charms. Finally, Mozart had a hit on his hands. If he had not died little more than two months following the premiere, The Magic Flute would doubtless have changed his life.
Intrigued by the mysterious contents, Marie decided to take it home and experiment with its powers. That evening, as the sun began to set, Marie gathered her ingredients and carefully opened the bottle of magical supper dust. She sprinkled a pinch of the shimmering powder onto a bland and ordinary bowl of soup. To her astonishment, the soup transformed before her eyes. The colors became vibrant, the flavors intensified, and a wonderful aroma filled the air. With each spoonful, Marie could feel an indescribable warmth spreading through her body. Word of Marie’s magical creation quickly spread throughout Stardale, and soon people from far and wide traveled to taste her enchanted dishes. Marie's magical supper dust became a staple in every kitchen, adding a touch of wonder to each meal. As Marie's reputation as a skilled sorceress grew, so did her responsibility. She began to explore the power of her creation, using it to heal the sick and bring joy to those in need. The magical supper dust became a symbol of hope and comfort in a world full of uncertainties. In the end, Marie's magical supper dust proved that there was a little bit of magic in everything. It reminded people to embrace the enchantment and wonder that life has to offer. Marie became a beloved figure in Stardale and her legacy lives on, reminding all who taste her creations of the extraordinary power of a little bit of magic..
Reviews for "Spice Up Your Supper: Marie's Magical Supper Dust"
1. Emma - ★☆☆☆☆
I was extremely disappointed with Marie's magical supper dust. After all the hype surrounding it, I had high expectations, but it ended up being a complete letdown. The taste was incredibly bland and lacked any sort of magical flavor. I followed the instructions precisely, but it just didn't deliver on its promise of adding a magical touch to my meal. Overall, I wouldn't recommend wasting your money on this product.
2. John - ★★☆☆☆
I was excited to try Marie's magical supper dust based on all the positive reviews I had seen, but I found it to be underwhelming. While it did add a slight hint of flavor to my food, it definitely didn't live up to the hype. The packaging was also quite misleading, as it stated that it would instantly transform any meal into a magical experience when it clearly did not. I won't be purchasing this product again.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I had high hopes for Marie's magical supper dust, but it fell flat for me. The taste was okay, nothing extraordinary. It failed to deliver that magical element that I was expecting. In my opinion, it's just an overpriced seasoning without any real magic. I won't be buying it again and I wouldn't recommend it to others who are looking for a truly magical dining experience.