The Magic FluteThis volume demonstrates for the first time that Mozart's opera "Die Zauberflote" is an enactment of the alchemical "opus magnum," in the form of a "chemical wedding," Towards the end of the 18th century, alchemy was still a prominent mystical current within the Order of Freemasons of which Mozart and his librettists were members. The central part focuses on the opera's alchemical structure, whereas the historical and mythological backgrounds are also dealt with extensively. The book comes with 3 CD's offering a rendition of the integral opera, in contrast to the common practice of leaving out major parts of the libretto. "The Magic Flute" is a fascinating journey of discovery, an initiation into Initiation. With complete original libretto and over 100 pictures. |
Contents
On the trail of Hermes | 3 |
Die Zauberflöte an alchemical allegory | 19 |
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND | 39 |
alchemists in word and deed | 65 |
65 | 84 |
HorusOrpheus | 119 |
SaltSulphurMercury | 137 |
Prima Materia and Anima Mundi | 169 |
Etchings laden with alchemical wisdom | 329 |
Emanuel Schikaneder and Karl | 363 |
Mozart Homo Esotericus | 413 |
A Mason on his way to Berlin | 463 |
Conclusion | 507 |
Duetto | 518 |
Alchemy and Die Zauberflöte an annotated bibliography | 525 |
The text of the libretto of Die Zauberflöte | 541 |
The sacred marriage and the celebrant | 193 |
Introduction to the Magnum Opus | 219 |
Nigredo The first phase of the magnum opus | 231 |
Albedo The second phase of the magnum opus | 253 |
Rubedo the final phase of the magnum opus | 279 |
Alchemy music and Die Zauberflöte | 301 |
Overture | 547 |
Bibliography | 629 |
Glossary | 643 |
Sources of illustrations | 653 |
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Common terms and phrases
alchemists Anonymous antimony aria AUFTRITT Bauer beginning Berlin Beyde bird century Chailley chapter Cited Crowned Hope Dame darkness death depicted Die Zauberflöte drey Damen drey Knaben earth Egyptian esoteric etching fact famous fire and water Freemasonry Freemasons Gebelein gehen Giesecke Glockenspiel goddess Götter Hecate Hermes Hermes Trismegistos hermetic initiation Irmen Isis Jung Jüngling king Königinn Leben Leipzig libretto Liebe Lodge Mädchen Magic Flute magnum opus makers Masonic matter mercury Monostatos moon Mozart Mozarteum mysteries nature Night nigredo Oetinger opera Orpheus Osiris Pamina Papag Papageno Paracelsus phase philosophers play Priester priests prima materia principle Queen Rochlitz Rosenberg Rosicrucian salt Sarastro says scene Schikaneder Schikaneder's schön Sclav secret seyn sieht snake soll soul spirit Sprecher stage stone substance sulphur Tamino Tamino and Pamina temple theater Three Ladies tion trial of fire Vienna Viennese Weib Whittaker wohl writes Zauberflöte Zweyter