↑ This is known from testimony by Ignaz von Seyfried (1776–1841), a composer who later (1798) became the musical director at the same theater. According to Seyfried's memories (which he published in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, vol. 12, 5 June 1840, p. 184), "[Mozart] personally directed the premiere there on 30 September 1791, at which Franz Xaver Süssmayr the faithful Pylades sat to his right, diligently turning the pages of the score." The description implies that Mozart was seated at a keyboard instrument, playing along with the orchestra, rather than standing on a podium with a baton; this was fairly standard practice for conductors in Mozart's time. (Source: Buch 2005)
↑ I[mperial] & R[oyal] priv[ileged] Wieden Theater / Today, Friday 30 September 1791. / The Actors of the Imperial and Royal Privileged Theater on the Wieden will have the honor to perform / For the First Time: / DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE / A Grand Opera in 2 Acts, by Emanuel Schikaneder. / Characters / Sarastro ... Herr Gerl. / Tamino ... Herr Schack. / Speaker ... Herr Winter / {First, Second, Third} Priest ... {Her Schikaneder, sen[ior], Herr Kistler, Herr Moll} / Queen of Night ... Mme. Hofer. / Pamina, her Daughter ... Mlle. Gottlieb / {First, Second, Third} Lady ... {Mlle. Klöpfer, Mlle. Hofmann, Mme. Schack} / Papageno ... Her Schikaneder, jun[ior] / An Old Woman [i.e., Papagena]... Mme. Gerl / Monostatos, a Moor ... Herr Nouseul / {First, Second, Third} Slave ... {Herr Gieseke, Herr Frasel, Herr Starke} / Priests, Slaves, Retinue / The music is by Herr Wolfgang Amade Mozart, Kapellmeister, an actual I[mperial] and R[oyal] Chamber Composer. Herr Mozard, out of respect for a gracious and honourable public, and from friendship for the author of this piece, will today direct the orchestra in person. / The book of the opera, furnished with two copper-plates, on which is engraved Herr Schikaneder in the costume he wears for the role of Papageno, may be had at the box office for 30 kr[eutzer]. / Herr Gayl, theater painter, and Herr Nesslthaler as designer, flatter themselves that they have worked with the utmost artistic zeal according to the prescribed plan of the piece. / Prices of admission are as usual. To begin at 7 o' clock. (English translation from Deutsch (1965, 407–408))
↑ The Queen is sometimes referred to by the name "Astrifiammante", which evidently comes from an Italian translation, such as this one, of the adjective "sternflammende" ("star-blazing") in the original libretto.
↑ For the origin of this duet, see Emanuel Schikaneder.
