Laurenz Lütteken doubts that Mozart’s “Magic Flute” reflects the Enlightenment. – Culture

It is played over and over again, and is currently being performed in many opera houses in Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and the rest of the world. Wolfgang Amadé Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” is a perennial favorite, regardless of the time of year or festival season, entertainment trends and political fashions. It was premiered in 1791, was quite successful right from the start and has been the most performed opera in German-speaking countries for around 100 years – and there is no end in sight to its success. It has something to offer for every taste and every level of education, the music seduces, overwhelms and inspires. And despite its fairytale setting, it is considered modern, politically correct musical theater. Because it heralds a better world in which things are more humane – just like Mozart intended. In which the dark forces are banished and the sun of enlightenment shines.