Vestas Feuer by Pamina and Papageno in "The Magic Flute"), which has the same key and time signature and was the subject of a set of variations for cello and piano by Beethoven (WoO 46), written 1801. Lockwood also discerns a precedent set by Mozart involving formal structure: an "Introduzione"; i.e. Beethoven's scene forms a separable initial section of an opera having some degree of integrity of both plot and harmonic plan; Lockwood calls the "Introduzione" a "miniplay". Three of Mozart's operas begin with such an "Introduzione": "Don Giovanni", "Così fan tutte", and "The Magic Flute". Beethoven's "Introduzione" has a harmonic structure
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Prague pointed out how precarious opera production was in the city throughout the eighteenth century. Indeed, productions of Italian opera in Prague ceased again already in 1789, not to re-appear again until 1791, due to the departure of the impresario Domenico Guardasoni and the death of the impresario Pasquale Bondini. Another possible reason why Mozart didn't stay is given by Volkmar Braunbehrens, citing Schenk: the death in Vienna in November 1787 of Gluck, whose post in the Imperial musical establishment Mozart sought (and ultimately got, though at a much lower salary); Mozart needed to return home to lobby for the position.