The following is a partial discography of the opera The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was composed and first performed in 1791, the year of the composer's death. Since the first complete recordings in 1937, the opera has been recorded many times.
In the list below, "Year" indicates the date the recording was made, rather than when it was issued . Most of these recordings have had multiple reissues, and in some cases are currently available on more than one label. The label information provided is usually the most recent issue of the recording, and where possible the release date has been provided.
| Year | Cast (Tamino; Pamina; Sarastro; Queen of the Night; Papageno; Papagena) | Conductor, opera house and/or orchestral and choral forces | Label information | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | Helge Rosvaenge Jarmila Novotná Alexander Kipnis Júlia Osváth Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender Dora Komarek | Arturo Toscanini Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera | Download only: Naxos 8110828-29 Released October 1999 | Recording of a performance at the Salzburg Festival (30 July 1937) | ||
| Walther Ludwig Trude Eipperle Josef von Manowarda Lea Piltti Karl Schmitt-Walter Lily Preisig | Joseph Keilberth Reichsenders Stuttgart Chorus and Orchestra | CD (2 discs): Preiser PR90254 | Radio broadcast, recorded 10 December 1937 | |||
| 1937–38 | Helge Rosvaenge Tiana Lemnitz Wilhelm Strienz Erna Berger Gerhard Hüsch Irma Beilke | Thomas Beecham Berlin Philharmonic and Favres Solisten Vereinigung | CD (2): Naxos 8110127-28 | Recorded between 8 November 1937 and 8 March 1938 | ||
| 1941 | Peter Anders Maria Reining Ludwig Weber Lea Piltti Alfred Poell Dora Komarek | Karl Böhm Wiener Philharmoniker | CD (2): MYTO Historical Line | Recorded at the Salzburg Festival, 2-8-1941 | ||
| 1942 | Charles Kullman Jarmila Novotná Ezio Pinza Josephine Antoine John Brownlee Lillian Raymondi | Bruno Walter New York Metropolitan Opera | CD (2): Andromeda ANDRCD5020 Released July 2007 | Recorded at the New York Met, 26 December 1942 | ||
| 1949 | Walther Ludwig Irmgard Seefried Josef Greindl Wilma Lipp Karl Schmitt-Walter Edith Oravez Cast also includes: Gertrude Grob-Prandl Paul Schöffler Ernst Haefliger Hermann Uhde | Wilhelm Furtwängler Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera | CD (3): Orfeo C650053D Released September 2005 | Recording of a performance at the Salzburg Festival (27 July 1949) | ||
| 1950 | Anton Dermota Irmgard Seefried Ludwig Weber Wilma Lipp Erich Kunz Emmy Loose | Herbert von Karajan Wiener Philharmoniker and Singverein der Gesellschaft der Muskifreunde in Wien | CD (2): EMI Historical 3367692 Released November 2005 | Dialogue not included | ||
| 1953 | Nicolai Gedda Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Mario Petri Rita Streich Giuseppe Taddei Alda Noni | Herbert von Karajan RAI Roma chorus and orchestra | CD (2): Walhall WLCD001 | Recorded from radio broadcast 20 December 1953, in Italian. | ||
| 1954 | Rudolf Schock Teresa Stich-Randall Josef Greindl Wilma Lipp Erich Kunz Kristina Sert | Joseph Keilberth Orchester des Westdeutschen Rundfunk Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunks | CD (2): Capriccio C67157 Released January 2006 | Recording of a radio broadcast, without dialogue, on 19 December 1954. | ||
| 1955 | Ernst Kozub Elisabeth Grümmer Gottlob Frick Erika Köth Günther Ambrosius Hanny Steffek | Georg Solti Hessischer Rundfunk Orchestrra and Chorus | CD (2): Gala GL100743 | |||
| Léopold Simoneau Hilde Güden Kurt Böhme Wilma Lipp Walter Berry Emmy Loose | Karl Böhm Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera | CD (2): Decca E4487342 Released January 1999 | Without dialogue; first recording in stereo | |||
| Ernst Haefliger Maria Stader Josef Greindl Rita Streich Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Lisa Otto | Ferenc Fricsay RIAS Symphonie-Orchester und Kammerchor | Deutsche Grammophon 435-741-2 Released 2001 | Complete recording at Internet Archive[1] | |||
| 1956 | Brian Sullivan Lucine Amara Jerome Hines Roberta Peters Theodor Uppman Laurel Hurley | Bruno Walter New York Metropolitan Opera and Chorus | CD (2): Walhall WLCD0181 Released February 2007 | Recording of a performance at the MET 3 March 1956: Sung in English | ||
| 1958 | Fritz Wunderlich Maria van Dongen Albert van Haasteren Julianna Farkas Jan Derksen Nel Duval | Bernard Haitink Het Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus | CD (2): Myto MCD00278 Released May 2011 | Recording of a broadcast performance 24 May 1958 | ||
| 1959 | Léopold Simoneau Lisa Della Casa Kurt Böhme Erika Köth Walter Berry Graziella Sciutti | George Szell Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera | CD (2):Gala GL100502 | Recorded at the Salzburg Festival 27 July 1959 | ||
| 1960 | Richard Lewis Pilar Lorengar Mihály Székely Margareta Hallin Geraint Evans Dodi Protero | Colin Davis Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Glyndebourne Festival Chorus | CD (2): Walhall WLCD0323 Released February 2011 | Recorded at the 1960 Glyndebourne Festival | ||
| Fritz Wunderlich Liselotte Fölser Gottlob Frick Erika Köth Walter Berry Graziella Sciutti | Joseph Keilberth Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera | CD (3):Andromeda ANDRCD9077 Released January 2011 | Recorded at the Salzburg Festival, 12 August 1960 | |||
| 1964 | Nicolai Gedda Gundula Janowitz Gottlob Frick Lucia Popp Walter Berry Ruth-Margret Pütz Cast also includes: Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Christa Ludwig | Otto Klemperer Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus | CD (2): EMI Great Recordings of the Century 5673852 Released August 2000 | Dialogue not included | ||
| Fritz Wunderlich Evelyn Lear Franz Crass Roberta Peters Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Lisa Otto Cast also includes: Hans Hotter | Karl Böhm Berliner Philharmoniker & RIAS Kammerchor | CD (2): DG Originals 4497492 Released February 1997 | ||||
| Fritz Wunderlich Anneliese Rothenberger Karl-Christian Kohn Erika Köth Hermann Prey Gertrud Freedman | Fritz Rieger Münchner Philharmoniker und Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper | CD (3): Golden Melodram Opera Live GM50027 Released Jone 2010 | Recorded at the Nationaltheater, Munich, 26 July 1964 | |||
| 1969 | Stuart Burrows Pilar Lorengar Martti Talvela Cristina Deutekom Hermann Prey Renate Holm Cast also includes: Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau as the Speaker | Georg Solti Wiener Philharmoniker and Wiener Staatsopernchor | CD (3): Decca Originals 4780394 Released June 2008 | |||
| 1970 | Peter Schreier Helen Donath Theo Adam Sylvia Geszty Günther Leib | Otmar Suitner Staatskapelle Dresden & Rundfunkchor Leipzig | CD (3): RCA Victor 6511-2-RG Released 1987 | |||
| 1972 | Peter Schreier Anneliese Rothenberger Kurt Moll Edda Moser Walter Berry Olivera Miljaković | Wolfgang Sawallisch Bayerischen Staatsoper orchestra and chorus | CD (2): EMI Electrola Collection 0882742 Released November 2011 | |||
| 1975 | Josef Köstlinger Irma Urrila Ulrik Cold Birgit Nordin Håkan Hagegård Elisabeth Erikson | Eric Ericson Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir | SR Records/EMI RXLP 1226/28 (LP) / 7498712 (CD reissue) | The actual soundtrack to the 1975 film of the same name; recorded in Cirkus April–May 1974 | ||
| 1980 | Francisco Araiza Edith Mathis José van Dam Karin Ott Gottfried Hornik Janet Perry | Herbert von Karajan Berliner Philharmoniker, Deutsche Oper Berlin Chorus | CD (2): DG Opera! 4779115 Released August 2011 | |||
| Éric Tappy Ileana Cotrubaș Martti Talvela Zdzisława Donat Christian Boesch Elisabeth Kales | James Levine Wiener Philharmoniker and Wiener Staatsopernchor | CD (3): RCA Victor 82876-87760-2 Released August 2006 | ||||
| 1984 | Peter Schreier Margaret Price Kurt Moll Luciana Serra Mikael Melbye Maria Venuti | Colin Davis Dresdener Staatskapelle und Kreuzchor, Leipziger Rundfunkchor | CD (2): Decca Duo 4425682 | |||
| 1987 | Hans Peter Blochwitz Barbara Bonney Matti Salminen Edita Gruberová Anton Scharinger Edith Schmid | Nikolaus Harnoncourt Zurich Opera Orchestra and Chorus | CD (2): Teldec 2292427162 | |||
| 1989 | Francisco Araiza Kiri Te Kanawa Samuel Ramey Cheryl Studer Olaf Bär Eva Lind | Neville Marriner Academy of St Martin in the Fields and Ambrosian Opera Chorus | CD (2): Philips 426 276-2 Released September 1990 | |||
| Stefan Dahlberg Ann Christine Biel László Polgár Birgit Louise Frandsen Mikael Samuelson Birgita Larsson | Arnold Östman Drottningholm Palace Theatre Orchestra and Chorus | CD (2): Decca 4700562 Released July 2002 | ||||
| 1990 | Anthony Rolfe Johnson Dawn Upshaw Cornelius Hauptmann Beverly Hoch Andreas Schmidt Catherine Pierard | Roger Norrington London Classical Players and Schütz Choir of London | CD (2): Virgin Veritas 4820732 Released February 2005 | |||
| Uwe Heilmann Ruth Ziesak Kurt Moll Sumi Jo Michael Kraus Lotte Leitner | Georg Solti Wiener Philharmoniker and Wiener Staatsopern choir | CD (2): Decca Opera Sets E4332102 | ||||
| Nils Brown Monica Whicher Gordon McLeod (singing)/Richard Binsley (speaking) Marjorie Sparks (singing)/Barbara Budd (speaking) Russell Braun Adriana Braun | Walter Babiak Studio Arts Orchestra, Toronto | "Mozart's Magic Fantasy: A Journey Through 'The Magic Flute'"Cassette Tape, Classical Kids; Later released on CD | Story adaptation by Douglas Cowling, produced by Susan Hammond Also features Tracey Moore as Sarah and Richard Binsley as the dragon, Sarastro, and a stagehand | |||
| 1991 | Jerry Hadley Barbara Hendricks Robert Lloyd June Anderson Thomas Allen Ulrike Steinsky | Charles Mackerras Scottish Chamber Orchestra and chorus | CD (2): Telarc 2CD80727 Released December 2008 | |||
| 1992 | Kurt Streit Barbara Bonney Kristinn Sigmundsson Sumi Jo Gilles Cachemaille Lilian Watson | Arnold Östman Drottingholm Court Theatre Orchestra and Chorus | CD (2): Decca Operas 4783443 Released February 2012 | |||
| 1993 | Herbert Lippert Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz Kurt Rydl Hellen Kwon Georg Tichy Lotte Leitner | Michael Halász Failoni Orchestra, Hungarian Festival Chorus | CD (2): Naxos Opera Classics 8660030-31 | |||
| 1995 | Michael Schade Christiane Oelze Harrie Peeters Cyndia Sieden Gerald Finley Constanze Backes | John Eliot Gardiner English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir | CD (2): DG Archiv E4491662 | |||
| 1995 | Hans Peter Blochwitz Rosa Mannion Reinhard Hagen Natalie Dessay Anton Scharinger Linda Kitchen | William Christie Les Arts Florissants | CD (2): Erato 2564677426 | |||
| 2005 | Barry Banks Rebecca Evans John Tomlinson Elizabeth Vidal Simon Keenlyside Lesley Garrett | Charles Mackerras London Philharmonic Orchestra with the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir | CD (2): Chandos CHAN 3121 | |||
| 2005 | Christoph Strehl Dorothea Röschmann René Pape Erika Miklósa Hanno Müller-Brachmann | Claudio Abbado Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Arnold Schönberg Chor | CD (2): DG 4775789 | |||
| 2009 | Daniel Behle Marlis Petersen Marcos Fink Anna-Kristiina Kaappola Daniel Schmutzhard Sunhae Im | René Jacobs RIAS Kammerchor Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin | CD (3); HMC 902 068 70 | Studio recording | Almost-complete original libretto |
Notes
Sources