SCHIKANEDER, EMANUEL ( b. Straubling, Germany, 1 Sept 1751; d. Vienna, Austria, 21 Sept 1812 )
Schikaneder's early life was spent as a wandering musician. His luck changed when he became associated with the Karntnertortheater in Vienna. During his time there as manager, he also performed himself, both as an actor and a singer.
There followed an opportunity to work at the theatre at Regensburg, after which returned to Vienna. This time he was manager of a small theatre in the suburb of Wieden. It was there that he produced Mozart's opera, Die Zauberfl├╢te (The Magic Flute).
Schikaneder wrote the libretto for Die Zauberflöte himself. He also sang the part of Papageno, the bird-catcher, at its première in September 1771. The success of the opera made the theatre's fortune, and Schikaneder's own.
In 1800 he went into partnership in a second theatre nearby, continuing as a manager until 1806.
His libretti were set by other composers, including Benedikt Schack, who sang the first Tamino. Vestas Feuer (1805) was written for Beethoven, who sketched a setting and then abandoned it. The text was eventually set by Joseph Weigl, the composer Salieri's assistant at the Vienna Court Theatre from 1792.
