One of Mozart's greatest operas, this work achieved immediate success upon its first performance in 1791 and has continued to enchant listeners ever since. A complex allegory glorifying Freemasonry and its emphasis on brotherhood, charity, and benevolence, the opera was particularly admired by Beethoven, who praised it for containing everything from North German "Choral-Vorspiel" to "Volkslied." An indispensable rehearsal aid for soloists, chorus members, and rehearsal pianists.