Keywords: SchafferBrothersDesignForMagicFlute1793ArrivalOfSarastro.png The Magic Flute in Brno in 1793 The triumphal arrival of the high priest Sarastro on a chariot pulled by several lions is depicted near end of Act I 1793 http //www habsburger net/en/media/joseph-and-peter-schaffer-magic-flute-act-i-scene-18-now-25-c-1793-coloured-copperplate Joseph and Peter Schaffer 1793 other versions PD-1923 This is part of a set of six images depicting a 1793 performance in Brno now in the Czech Republic of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute This was not the premiere Vienna 1791 but is the first performance from which documentary images survive The triumphal arrival of the high priest Sarastro on a chariot pulled by lions is depicted The libretto calls for six lions; it is not clear from the image whether the Brno production succeeded in fulfilling this specification In the background appear three temples bearing the German inscriptions Vernunft Weisheit and Natur reason wisdom nature In the right foreground is Papageno identifiable by his feather-textured costume and pipes The female character at the far left is almost certainly the heroine of the opera Pamina There is a chorus of priests and acolytes Sarastro bears an image of the sun on his breastplate The caption reads Es lebe Sarastro Long live Sarastro the opening words sung by the chorus in this scene; along with designation of Scene 18 Act I For more information see source page http //www habsburger net/en/media/joseph-and-peter-schaffer-magic-flute-act-i-scene-18-now-25-c-1793-coloured-copperplate PD-Art Die Zauberflöte Opera productions |