Magic Flutes and Enchanted Forests: The Supernatural in Eighteenth-Century Musical Theater (Heritage of Sociology)

Drawing on hundreds of operas, singspiels, ballets, and plays with supernatural themes, __Magic Flutes and Enchanted Forests__ argues that the tension between fantasy and Enlightenment-era rationality shaped some of the most important works of eighteenth-century musical theater and profoundly influenced how audiences and critics responded to them. David J. Buch reveals that despite—and perhaps even because of—their fundamental irrationality, fantastic and exotic themes acquired extraordinary force and popularity during the period, pervading theatrical works with music in the French, German, and Italian mainstream. Considering prominent compositions by Gluck, Rameau, and Haydn, as well as many seminal contributions by lesser-known artists, Buch locates the origins of these magical elements in such historical sources as ancient mythology, European fairy tales, the Arabian Nights, and the occult. He concludes with a brilliant excavation of the supernatural roots of Mozart’s __The Magic Flute__ and __Don Giovanni__, building a new foundation for our understanding of the magical themes that proliferated in Mozart’s wake. Drawing on hundreds of operas, singspiels, ballets, and plays with supernatural themes, Magic Flutes and Enchanted Forests argues that the tension between fantasy and Enlightenment-era rationality shaped some of the most important works of eighteenth-century musical theatre and profoundly influenced how audiences and critics responded to them. David J. Buch reveals that despite-and even because of-their fundamental irrationality, fantastic and exotic themes acquired extraordinary force and popularity during the period, pervading theatrical works with music in the French, German, and Italian Drawing On Hundreds Of Operas, Singspiels, Ballets And Plays With Supernatural Themes, This Book Argues That The Tension Between Fantasy And Enlightenment-era Rationality Shaped Some Of The Most Important Works Of 18th-century Musical Theatre And Profoundly Influenced How Audiences And Critics Responded To Them. L'académie Royale De Musique -- Opéra-comique -- Italian Serious Genres -- Italian Comic Genres -- German Musical Theater -- The Supernatural In The Operas Of Mozart. David J. Buch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [389]-419) And Index.