This new vocal score is based on the Urtext score from the “New Mozart Edition” (NMA II/5/19) edited by Gernot Gruber and Alfred Orel as well as on the latest scholarly research from the Critical Commentary by Rudolf Faber published in 2006.

The Magic Flute remains Mozart's most popular opera worldwide to this day. Schikaneder’s Freihaustheater auf der Wieden was a theatre in the suburbs of Vienna . It was a kind of people’s theatre with a corresponding repertoire and its attraction for the public was due not least to the use of spectacular stage effects. The concept ‘machine-comedy’ refers to the theatrical genre to which “The Magic Flute” owes its origins, and to which the work originally belonged. The premiere was given on 30 September 1791, conducted by Mozart.

With this new edition, Bärenreiter has now published vocal scores to all Mozart’s stage works in revised or new editions. These editions offer a historically grounded working basis and will be decisive for Mozart reception for the forthcoming decades.