The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflote), Opera in two Acts

The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflote), Opera in two Acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart(Words by Carl Ludwig Giesecke and Emanuel Schikaneder), English Version by Edward J. Dent, Vocal Score by Erwin Stein, from The Royal Edition of Operas series, was published by Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.(especially for the London FFRR recording XLLA-33) in 1944. This 7 1/2" X 11", 200-page, 69-year-old offering is an ex-library copy in G condition. This quite special offering, FYI, was presented, lo these many years ago, to the Lima Public Library, a Gift of The Metropolitan Opera Guild. Still in overall quite sound, nice physical shape despite its 69 years, there is some modest, light browning of text's pages, and there is the presence of fairly minimal library markings. There is a mild, just over 6"-long, diagonal crease beginning at bottom edge of front cover board. Mild shelf wear is seen, mostly at the four outer tips of front/back cover boards. From Summary, "The story of 'The Magic Flute' has often been regarded as a childish jumble of absurdities. The opera was planned as a spectacular fairy play with music for a popular theater, but for some unknown reason the whole plot was altered at an early stage and the opera became an allegory of Freemasonry, which, largely under English influences, had spread all over Germany during the eighteenth century and was secretly disseminating ideals of English liberalism and humanitarianism. These ideals met with the determined hostility of the absolute monarchies and of the Roman Catholic Church, all the more so since in France they had led to the Revolution. Mozart was a devoted Freemason and so were many of the leading spirits of his time such as Goethe and Haydn. .The libretto of [this opera] had been first suggested by an oriental fairy-tale., but for the Masonic symbolism the main source of its episodes was Sethos, an edifying novel by the Abbe Terrasson, first published in Paris, 1731, and soon translated into both German and English; it was much read in Masonic circles." This is, Reader, the complete scoring, with words(provided in both German and English) of Mozart's "The Magic Flute"(completed in 1791, the year of his death), from "Overture, Act I" to "Finale, Act II". Tamino, Pamina, Sarastro, the Queen of Night, Monostatos, and, of course, Papageno--they're all on board within this offering which was, as noted above, specially printed/published to assist anyone listening to/following along with the London Records recording of "The Magic Flute" as performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra(Karl Bohm, Conductor), the Vienna State Opera Chorus(Richard Rossmayer, Director), and featuring Leopold Simoneau, tenor, and Hilde Gueden, soprano. Also included are (List of) Characters and Index(for Acts I, II, listing all musical pieces, complete). Thank you very much!.…