The Magic Flute Unveiled: Esoteric Symbolism in Mozart's Masonic Opera
by Jacques Chailley
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jacques ChailleyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1992-01-01
ISBN: 089281358X
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: Inner Traditions
Book Reviews of The Magic Flute Unveiled: Esoteric Symbolism in Mozart's Masonic Opera
Book Review: a well researched book
Summary: 5 Stars
The author knows his stuff. He frequently compares passages in the opera with earlier compositions, other compositions by Mozart, and later compositions. He also knows his Freemasonry.
Usually, his musical analysis makes sense, but there were a few points which I was not sure about. He calls the overture both a fugue and a sonata movement. I went through the score of the overture, following his analysis, and I still cannot identify it as either one. On pages 174 and 266, he speaks of twelve chords signifying a clock striking twelve, but I cannot identify those chords.
The author realizes that the libretto for this opera is often maligned, and he hopes to explain it well enough to reverse the reader's opinion. I am not sure he succeeded in my case. At the beginning of the opera, Tamino faints at the sight of a monster, the Three Ladies rescue him from that monster, and the Three Ladies send him on a courageous mission. It seems to me that if there is anyone who should go on a courageous mission, it is the Three Ladies.
It has also seemed strange to me that Tamino's opinion of Sarastro is reversed through a mere statement from one of his priests. After all, what would you expect a follower to say about a leader?
But now that I think about it, I have seen such an incident in real life. I knew a girl whose older sister was taken in by the Moonies. Fearing that her sister had been drugged or hypnotized, the girl went to the Moonie headquarters and screamed and cursed at the person who answered the door. The Moonies put this younger sister through their introductory program, and two days later, she was take in too.
Does this book portray Masonry favorably or unfavorably? The numerical symbolism is interesting, the symbolism of the four elements is interesting, but that does not make up for sexism and racism.
Summary of The Magic Flute Unveiled: Esoteric Symbolism in Mozart's Masonic Opera
A professor of music history at the Sorbonne reveals the hidden significance of this popular opera, relating it to the esoteric traditions on which it was based, and to Mozart's own Masonic involvement.History & Criticism Books
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