Peter Winter worked in the court orchestra at Mannheim from 1764 (aged 10!) and was made director of the orchestra when the court moved to Munich in 1778. He lived to the age of 71 and thus was a contemporary of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert. In 1814 he was knighted on completing 50 years service to the court and became Peter von Winter. However he was also widely travelled and collaborated with many of the leading figures of the time. Mozart  referred to him as "arch-scoundrel", "officious and impertinent" and "my worst enemy" in his letters probably because Winter had made very uncomplimentary remarks about Konstanze (Mozart's future wife) to Mozart's father, Leopold. Although Spohr, Meyerbeer and Weber also had little time for him, his music was extremely popular in his day. He wrote several operas to libretti by Da Ponte and was chosen by Schikaneder to write the music for his "Das Labyrinth" which was billed as "Der Zauberflöte zweiter Theil" (Part 2 of the Magic Flute). This overture uses Papageno's glockenspiel and pan-pipes as well as the "Masonic Chords" familiar in the slow introduction of Magic Flute.

Fountayne Editions, 62 Fountayne Road, London N16 7DT
Email: info@fountayneeditions.co.uk Why not visit Fountayne Pops