Peter Shaffer’s play ‘Amadeus’ and its subsequent movie version have cemented the popular perceptions of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as either a wayward prodigy at odds with the mainstream of his world or a giggling fool squandering his immense talent on showy trifles.
This study examines Mozart as a product of his era—the European Enlightenment—and considers how the key features that define that era and its importance in Masonic evolution are also key aspects discernable in Mozart’s music: for example, recognition of individuality, respect for all regardless of rank, and questions of authority and right. In particular, Mozart’s own Masonic career and his music are explored to trace themes that posit him as representative of social development in his age, rather than an anomalous genius.
Title
2008 - THE MASONIC MOZART - wayward prodigy or product of his times? - David Beagley.
