Schikaneder and the Freemasons

Available for 28 days

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