the opera premiered at the suburban freihaus-theater auf der wieden in vienna on 12 june 1798. schikaneder himself played papageno, while the role of the queen of the night was sung by mozart's sister-in-law josepha hofer-mayer. schikaneder was the librettist of mozart's opera and he was considered to have been ″one of the most original and most influential theatre persons of his time." both artists were reprising their roles from "the magic flute".