learning
music from the finest teachers. He was a gifted musician on many
levels, but with a flute to his lips, he was a genius, someone who
could play music that truly lifted the soul of man.
“Ignatz was more than an exceptional flute
player. He was a craftsman. He had been in Vienna when The Magic
Flute premiered. He even spent a day visiting with Mozart. The
two had become quite good friends when Ignatz met the composer the
previous months when Mozart had been in Prague working on the
coronation piece for Leopold II. Ignatz wanted to be part of the
opera’s history when Die Zauberflote came to Prague and he
wanted to give a gift to Mozart that no one else could give. So, he
handcrafted a special flute, one he intended to present to his
friend when he next came to the city.”
I bit my lip. “But Mozart never
returned.”
“No, he did not. Mozart passed away only
months after Die Zauberflote was performed in Vienna.”
“So what happened to Ignatz Jezek and his
flute?”
An expression of sheer joy made the man’s
face look like that of a teenager. “Ignatz learned that The
Magic Flute would be in Prague in May 1792. So he brought with
him the flute he had made and offered it to the company to use as
they wished. I have heard that the manager was thrilled and touched
by this gesture—this gift of love. But he told Mr. Jezek that the
flute would be put to better use if the flautist himself played it
as part of the orchestra. He hired him at that very moment.”
This was a very romantic tale but I started
wondering where the Duskovas fit in, and why Ignatz Jezek was
haunting the place. I said as much to the gentlemen, without
mentioning Ignatz’ presence at the castle piping tunes since I
didn’t want God labeling me a lunatic.
He smiled at me and my impatience. “This is
where the real story, the legend, if you will, enters the picture.
For, you see, even in 1792, the rumors had begun that Ignatz
somehow had created a truly enchanted flute. An instrument with
mystical powers. A magical flute for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.”
I sat up. “Wow. I had a feeling this was
going to lead to mystery and magic. This is marvelous. So, what’s
the rumor about the magic? What are the powers?”
“I myself do not know. I do not believe
anyone knows for certain. At the time Ignatz made the flute there
was much interest in alchemy in this part of Europe and to many,
alchemy meant turning objects into gold. I myself am certain there
is more to the magic than monetary treasure, but perhaps that is
because a man such as Ignatz would not have been tempted to infuse
music, especially a gift to his dear friend and mentor, Mozart,
with the evils of greed. But then, Ignatz and Mozart were both
freemasons and alchemy was an interest of many of the masons of the
time so perhaps this is the correct theory after all. Whatever the
power is, magic of some sort resides in the flute. This I do
believe.”
“What happened to Mr. Jezek? And the
flute?”
He looked as stricken as though what he was
about to tell me had happened the day before instead of over two
centuries ago. “Both Ignatz Jezek and the flute disappeared late in
1793. No trace of either was ever found. His children mourned for
him for many, many years.”
His sadness hit me now as well. “How
awful.”
“Indeed.” He paused. “Ignatz was living with
his sister and brother-in-law at the time.”
“Wait. Let me guess—these in-laws didn’t
happen to have the last name of Duskova, did they?”
“You’re very quick. They did. And since 1793,
there has been speculation that Ignatz knew he was going to die and
that he hid the flute somewhere in Kouzlo Noc .”
We both stayed silent for a minute or so. I
spoke first. “So, the pursuit of wealth and treasure often being
the nature of the human beast, I gather that this magic flute has
been the dream of fortune hunters and plunderers throughout the
years?”
“Indeed, yes, young lady. Family members of
the
music from the finest teachers. He was a gifted musician on many
levels, but with a flute to his lips, he was a genius, someone who
could play music that truly lifted the soul of man.
“Ignatz was more than an exceptional flute
player. He was a craftsman. He had been in Vienna when The Magic
Flute premiered. He even spent a day visiting with Mozart. The
two had become quite good friends when Ignatz met the composer the
previous months when Mozart had been in Prague working on the
coronation piece for Leopold II. Ignatz wanted to be part of the
opera’s history when Die Zauberflote came to Prague and he
wanted to give a gift to Mozart that no one else could give. So, he
handcrafted a special flute, one he intended to present to his
friend when he next came to the city.”
I bit my lip. “But Mozart never
returned.”
“No, he did not. Mozart passed away only
months after Die Zauberflote was performed in Vienna.”
“So what happened to Ignatz Jezek and his
flute?”
An expression of sheer joy made the man’s
face look like that of a teenager. “Ignatz learned that The
Magic Flute would be in Prague in May 1792. So he brought with
him the flute he had made and offered it to the company to use as
they wished. I have heard that the manager was thrilled and touched
by this gesture—this gift of love. But he told Mr. Jezek that the
flute would be put to better use if the flautist himself played it
as part of the orchestra. He hired him at that very moment.”
This was a very romantic tale but I started
wondering where the Duskovas fit in, and why Ignatz Jezek was
haunting the place. I said as much to the gentlemen, without
mentioning Ignatz’ presence at the castle piping tunes since I
didn’t want God labeling me a lunatic.
He smiled at me and my impatience. “This is
where the real story, the legend, if you will, enters the picture.
For, you see, even in 1792, the rumors had begun that Ignatz
somehow had created a truly enchanted flute. An instrument with
mystical powers. A magical flute for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.”
I sat up. “Wow. I had a feeling this was
going to lead to mystery and magic. This is marvelous. So, what’s
the rumor about the magic? What are the powers?”
“I myself do not know. I do not believe
anyone knows for certain. At the time Ignatz made the flute there
was much interest in alchemy in this part of Europe and to many,
alchemy meant turning objects into gold. I myself am certain there
is more to the magic than monetary treasure, but perhaps that is
because a man such as Ignatz would not have been tempted to infuse
music, especially a gift to his dear friend and mentor, Mozart,
with the evils of greed. But then, Ignatz and Mozart were both
freemasons and alchemy was an interest of many of the masons of the
time so perhaps this is the correct theory after all. Whatever the
power is, magic of some sort resides in the flute. This I do
believe.”
“What happened to Mr. Jezek? And the
flute?”
He looked as stricken as though what he was
about to tell me had happened the day before instead of over two
centuries ago. “Both Ignatz Jezek and the flute disappeared late in
1793. No trace of either was ever found. His children mourned for
him for many, many years.”
His sadness hit me now as well. “How
awful.”
“Indeed.” He paused. “Ignatz was living with
his sister and brother-in-law at the time.”
“Wait. Let me guess—these in-laws didn’t
happen to have the last name of Duskova, did they?”
“You’re very quick. They did. And since 1793,
there has been speculation that Ignatz knew he was going to die and
that he hid the flute somewhere in Kouzlo Noc .”
We both stayed silent for a minute or so. I
spoke first. “So, the pursuit of wealth and treasure often being
the nature of the human beast, I gather that this magic flute has
been the dream of fortune hunters and plunderers throughout the
years?”
“Indeed, yes, young lady. Family members of
the
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