When and where was Benedikt Schack born?
Benedikt Emanuel Schack arrived in the world on the 7th of February 1758 within Mirotice, Bohemia. This small town sat inside the Habsburg monarchy before becoming part of modern Czechia.
Questions about Benedikt Schack
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What opera role did Benedikt Schack perform during The Magic Flute premiere in 1791?
Schack took the role of Tamino when The Magic Flute premiered in 1791. He sang the part a total of 116 times according to an 1815 source.
How did Mozart contribute to Benedikt Schack's operas around 1790?
Mozart composed pieces for Schack's operas while visiting him to fetch him for a stroll. Several passages in Schack's works derive directly from Mozart's own hand and genius including a duet known as Nun liebes Weibchen added to Der Stein der Weisen.
Did Benedikt Schack play the flute solos himself during The Magic Flute performances?
Scholars debate whether he played the flute solos himself or mimed them because traditional views lack reliable corroboration. One scholar argues that flutist Anton Dreyssig played the flute music from the orchestra pit.
When did Mozart die relative to his collaboration with Benedikt Schack on the Requiem?
Eleven hours later at one o'clock in the morning of the 5th of December 1791 Mozart departed this life after singing the alto part while Schack sang the soprano line. This account likely reflects a story told by Schack himself to the author of the obituary published in 1827.
Why did Constanze Mozart write to Benedikt Schack before he died?
Constanze Mozart sent a letter seeking biographical details about her late husband because she could think of absolutely no one who knew Mozart better than Schack. She asked specifically about Mozart's few compositions in his operas but Schack died before he was able to reply to her message.