Today is the celebration of the birthday of one of most musical geniuses of all time, Wolfgang Amadaus Mozart. Being a classically educated musician, I learned at a very early stage in my training to appreciate and adore the music that has touched eternity. I love telling my students that Mozart began composing at the age of 4 and by age 11 had written a full scale opera. He lived a short, vibrant life with many ups and downs. Having died at the ripe old age of 35 of complications from rheumatic fever, Mozart left ths world with a wealth of brilliant and inspiring collection of music that the world will enjoy forever.
Clever Politics
Mozart was very clever at choosing text for the librettos of his operas. Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), for example, much to the chagrin of Austrian Emporer Joseph and his other music staff, was chosen by Mozart as the opera he would do as his first order from the Emporer to perform an opera for Vienna. This was so controversial because the story because it was based on a banned stage play by Beaumarchais, which made a mockery of the upper class.
Complex Creativity
Mozart’s last opera was Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), an opera buffa, based on on a fable by Wieland.
The opera is in two acts and takes place in Egypt, about the reign of Rameses I, near and at the Temple of Isis, Memphis. Sources consider the libretto, The Magic Flute such a jumble of nonsense that it is as well to endeavour to extract some sense from it.
It appears that Mozart and his librettist for this opera, Schikaneder, a fellow free mason, orchestrated this production to connect to the freemason movement.
The Masonic traditions observed by the composer and its librettist (Emanuel Schickaneder) have prompted some of the most philosophical discussions in the annals of opera. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a fellow free-mason, speaks to the masses outside the circle of free-masonry regarding The Magic Flute: “It is enough that the crowd would find pleasure in seeing the spectacle; at the same time, its high significance will not escape the initiates.” Goethe’s statement is revealing, as it points to an inner circle of beliefs and philosophies that may be the very core of The Magic Flute’s libretto and music. Behind Goethe’s statement lies an even deeper question to ponder: Who are the “initiates” and what is the higher meaning of The Magic Flute under the guise of Free-Masonry?
Here is the synopsis of The Magic Flute, provided by The Royal Opera House, London, U.K.:
Pamina is held captive by Sarastro. Her mother, the Queen of Night, finds a prince, Tamino, to send on a mission to rescue her. Tamino, having seen a portrait of the beautiful Pamina, is determined to win her. He takes with him Papageno, a bird-catcher. Pamina is rescued by Papageno from the clutches of Monostatos, Sarastro’s servant. Tamino is persuaded that Sarastro is not a cruel enemy but concerned with the cause of virtue. Tamino and Papageno agree to undergo the trials of initiation into Sarastro’s brotherhood.
e adventurers are assisted by magic bells and a magic flute, given to them by the Queen, and Three Boys act as their guides. The trials demand silence and restraint. Papageno is less successful than Tamino, but he still finds reward in the person of Papagena. Tamino, eventually with Pamina at his side, completes the final trials by fire and water. The Queen of Night attacks the Temple but is repulsed by Sarastro, his spiritual power renewed by the virtue of Tamino and Pamina.
Mozart Trivia:
Mozart’s musical genius was irritating to his colleagues. He would compose full scores in his head and not write them down until days before the opening of his operas, for example. Mozart was a devoted family man, married to Constanze Weber (they had two children, boys) who also liked to entertain. He was very clever at creating and playing games and devising tricks to amaze his guests. Mozart also would compose music that could be played as a different song backwords. He loved creating puzzles like this in all sorts of ways.
Links to Info on Mozart:
Classical Music Pages: Mozart
Mozart Biography
Classical Music Archives
Mozart on Classical Net
Wikipedia: Mozart
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 