The Metropolitan Opera in New York City has announced its upcoming presentation of The Magic Flute in 2023. This well-known and beloved opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart will be brought to life by a talented cast and creative team. The main idea of the note is the announcement of the Metropolitan Opera's presentation of The Magic Flute in 2023..
To conclude this wretched matter, there are children of three and four years, to the number of three hundred, who are said to have had intercourse with the Devil. I have seen put to death children of seven, promising students of ten, twelve, fourteen, and fifteen. Of the nobles -but I cannot and must not write more of this misery. There are persons of yet higher rank, whom you know, and would marvel to hear of, nay, would scarcely believe it; let justice be done . . .
It has been called the greatest witch trial ever to have occurred in Franconia, though the famous Bamberg witch trials of 1626-1630 was a close second with 300 executions. At Cologne the City Fathers had always been merciful, much to the annoyance of the prince-archbishop, but in 1627 he was able to put pressure on the city and it gave in.
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Wurzburg witch trials
Between the years 1400 to 1800 many Europeans thought witches were a serious danger to society. Although, historically and scientifically witches did not really exist, political authorities began to arrest, prosecute and punish -- or hunt -- people they imagined to be witches. For a general material on the whole issue of the witch hunts, go to the Witch Hunts main page here, and explore the links. "Ten Common Errors and Myths about the Witch Hunts" might be particularly helpful.
In 1628 the Holy Roman Empire was in a fragile condition. What historians would later call the Thirty Years War had rattled through many territories for ten years already. This conflict was fought concerning how much power the emperor would have over other imperial kings, dukes and counts in addition to the clash between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Many people had died, territories had been devastated by armies, and political systems weakened. Further, bad weather in the 1620s was causing crop failures, famine and plague. Instead of considering natural causes or the mistakes of politicians, people would blame mysterious witches, in league with the Devil, for these misfortunes. Then, especially in the years 1628-1630, a new wave of witch hunts broke out in the Holy Roman Empire, especially in territories ruled by prince-bishops.
Prince-bishops were both prelates of the church and political rulers. As clerics they administered the possessions and clergy of the Roman Catholic Church within their dioceses. But as princes of the empire, they acted like dukes or counts in their control of taxes, armies, and courts within their individual territories. For more on prince-bishops, click here.
These clerical/political leaders of territories like Eichst�tt, Bamberg, W�rzburg, Mainz, or Cologne harshly hunted witches, often by violating civil rights of the accused. Torture could be carried out on hearsay evidence from as few as two witnesses, and contrary evidence by equally valid eyewitnesses could be ignored. Although imperial legal codes were supposed to prohibit repeated torture, professors and lawyers argued that further bouts of torture were a mere continuation of the first application. Tortured victims produced fantastic stories and accusations that fed the frenzy of the hunts.
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Reviews for "Why The Magic Flute Remains a Staple of the Metropolitan Opera Repertoire"
1. John Smith - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with the 2023 metropolitan opera presentation of the magic flute. The performers seemed out of sync, their voices were strained, and the overall production lacked coherence. The stage design was also lackluster, with minimal effort put into creating an enchanting and magical atmosphere. I found it difficult to connect with the characters and their motivations, and the whole performance felt flat and uninspiring. I wouldn't recommend this production to anyone looking for a quality opera experience.
2. Sarah Johnson - 2 stars - As a long-time opera enthusiast, the 2023 metropolitan opera presentation of the magic flute left much to be desired. While the set designs and costumes were visually appealing, the performances fell short. The singers seemed to struggle with the complex vocal parts, often missing key notes and lacking the necessary depth of emotion. The pacing of the production also felt off, with long periods of monotony that made it hard to stay engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this particular rendition of the magic flute and would advise opera fans to explore other options.
3. Mark Davis - 1 star - I found the 2023 metropolitan opera presentation of the magic flute to be an utter disappointment. The singing was subpar, with many of the performers struggling to hit the high notes and maintain consistency in their vocal delivery. The stage direction was confusing, and the overall production lacked unity and coherence. Additionally, the costumes and set designs were unremarkable, failing to create a visually stunning experience. I had high expectations for this performance, but unfortunately, it fell far short. I would not recommend wasting your time or money on this particular opera presentation.