This dissertation contains an analysis of the libretto of Mozart's Die Zauberflote. The analysis was contemplated with apprehension, given that so much has already been written about the opera. But the work was prompted by two factors. Firstly, by a longstanding concern that the libretto contains classical, literary, historical and philosophical references which have not been referred to in previous explanations of the opera. There was a sense in which the opera may have been well documented but perhaps not well understood. Secondly, and consequentially, the study was fuelled by the magnitude of the challenge to understand how these unacknowledged references fit together to create what the librettists considered to be their "purpose". This dissertation, then, develops many new analytical themes and throws fresh light on the purpose of the opera and the methods by which it was developed. Many people have helped me in a variety of ways during this study. I am particularly grateful to my Supervisor, David Chadd, Head of the School of Music at the University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, for his constant support and advice, and to my two examiners Professor Julian Rushton at Leeds University and Anthony Gritten at UEA. I am also grateful to Simon Waters at UEA and Ian Biddle (formerly UEA but now at Newcastle University) for their help during an earlier M.Mus. study which unexpectedly led to the research presented here. I am particularly grateful to Edvina Franceschini for her assistance, comments, encouragement and hospitality throughout the period of this study. And I am indebted to Prebendary Michael Moreton, for reading draft text and offering helpful comments on theological and other references, and to Angela Biston for helpfully commenting on several occasions on my draft text. I also wish to acknowledge the help of a number of people on whom I have relied for specific advice on a miscellany of subjects. Their contributions may have been partial, because none were aware of the objectives of my study, but their help was nevertheless important. I am particularly grateful to Anna Plattner and Bettina Kann, Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna; Frieder Hepp, Director, KurpJiilzisches Museum, Heidelberg; Clare Rider, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, London; Diana Weber, Stadtarchive, Heidelberg; Daniel Pailthorpe, Principal Flautist, English National Opera, London; Cesare Poppi, Deputy Director, The Sainsbury Centre, UEA, Norwich: Joe Taylor, Head Ranger, Sports and Parks Division, City of Coventry; Ineke Fijan, the Erasmus University, Rotterdam; Anne Mitchell, Woburn Abbey; Catherine Baron, Assistant Curator ofthe Royal Collection; Bernhard Overbeck, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich; Claire Leach, Voltaire Foundation; Sylvia Morris, Shakespeare Memorial Library, Stratford-uponAvon; Richard Palmer, Lambeth Palace Library, London; Lynda McLoed, Sotherby's, London; Mr. Ellis, Astrological Association, London; The Astrology Shop, London; Clive Wilkins-Jones, Norfolk and Norwich Millenium Library, Norwich; Ingrid Lamey, Schwetzingen Castle; Lucia Underhill, Kimbolton School; Omar Samy, Al Ahram Newspaper, Cairo; Ingrid Horning, Utrecht; Julian Roberts; and Jean Rafferty. Finally, I am grateful for the unfailing assistance of countless anonymous staff in many libraries and museums. Staff at The British Library, where necessarily most of my research was undertaken, have been exceptionally helpful. But I have also received considerable help from staff at the UEA library; the Bodleian; the House of Lords Record Office; the Egypt Exploration Society; the National Portrait Gallery Heinz Archive; German Historical Institute, London; London University Library; the Wellcome Library; the Victoria and Albert Museum; the Warburg Institute Library; Christie's Images; Coventry City Library; Warwickshire Records Office; the Ashmolean Museum; Centraalmuseum, Utrecht; the National Maritime Museum; the Historische Museum, Berne; the Offentliche Kunstammlung, Basle; the London Park Lane Mosque Library and the Vatican State Library.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:503064 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Thomson, I. |
| Publisher | University of East Anglia |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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