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鈥檚 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鈥檛 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 Fr缨st, 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 f眉r Alte Musik Berlin
RIAS Kammerchor
Ren茅 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 蘑菇短视频 Wales Audio
On radio
Broadcast
- Tomorrow 16:00蘑菇短视频 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.