Alfons Rosenberg
Encyclopedia
Alfons Rosenberg was a German-Jewish author from Munich
who wrote Die Welt im Feuer (1983, The World in Fire). An expert on symbol
ism, he was the author of over forty works. He made important contributions to the understanding of Mozart's operas.
He had moved to an island on Lake Wörth, near Munich
, to evade the National socialists, but in 1935 he had to flee abroad and found a safe haven in Switzerland
, where he earned his living through his art and handicrafts. He was a part of the intellectual discussion group Eranos
, through which he became acquainted with C. G. Jung
, Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn
, Hugo Rahner
and other renowned people. Co-operation with the group inspired him to study Protestant theology
and Christian
spirituality
. He converted to Catholicism
in 1943. He spent his life lecturing about symbolism, love and meditation
throughout the German-speaking world. In his classic studies, Die Zauberflöte - Geschichte und Deutung von Mozarts Oper (1964, The Magic Flute - History and Interpretation of Mozart's Opera) and Don Giovanni - Mozarts Oper und Don Juans Gestalt (1968, Don Giovanni - Mozart's Opera and the Don Juan Figure) as well as in some shorter works, he made major contributions to the understanding of the symbolism of Mozart's operas.
In his little book Die Zauberflöte und die Geheimwissenshaften (1972, The Magic Flute and the Secret Sciences), immediately after quoting the telling words of Ludwig Börne
, "Mozart's music reflects back everyone's own and present feelings like a mirror, but somewhat ennobled; we recognise in it the poetry of existence", Rosenberg adds his own comment: "In other words, ever since Mozart's time men have in his music recognised their true condition and state cleared of everything that can tarnish it from without; the sensual man recognises himself as the godlike man he has been called to be by nature."
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
who wrote Die Welt im Feuer (1983, The World in Fire). An expert on symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ism, he was the author of over forty works. He made important contributions to the understanding of Mozart's operas.
Life
Succeeding unwillingly to his father's shoe-making business, he much preferred the life of an artist. He studied and enjoyed the fine arts and dancing and was also semi-involved in agriculture. His career as a lecturer and a writer began in 1942.He had moved to an island on Lake Wörth, near Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, to evade the National socialists, but in 1935 he had to flee abroad and found a safe haven in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where he earned his living through his art and handicrafts. He was a part of the intellectual discussion group Eranos
Eranos
Eranos is an intellectual discussion group dedicated to the study of psychology, religion, philosophy and spirituality which has met annually in Switzerland since 1933....
, through which he became acquainted with C. G. Jung
Jung
Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist, an influential thinker and the founder of analytical psychology.Jung may also refer to:* Jung * JUNG, Java Universal Network/Graph Framework-See also:...
, Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn
Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn
Olga Fröbe-Kapteyn was an English-Dutch spiritualist, theosophist and scholar.-Early life:Born in London to a feminist/social activist mother and engineer father, Olga studied art history in Zürich, Switzerland, and in 1909 married musician and conductor Iwan Fröbe who died a few years later in a...
, Hugo Rahner
Hugo Rahner
Hugo Rahner, was a German Jesuit, Theologian, * 3 May 1900 in Pfullendorf , † 21 December 1968 in Munich. He was Dean and President of Innsbruck University and the elder brother of Karl Rahner.-Early life :...
and other renowned people. Co-operation with the group inspired him to study Protestant theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
. He converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
in 1943. He spent his life lecturing about symbolism, love and meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
throughout the German-speaking world. In his classic studies, Die Zauberflöte - Geschichte und Deutung von Mozarts Oper (1964, The Magic Flute - History and Interpretation of Mozart's Opera) and Don Giovanni - Mozarts Oper und Don Juans Gestalt (1968, Don Giovanni - Mozart's Opera and the Don Juan Figure) as well as in some shorter works, he made major contributions to the understanding of the symbolism of Mozart's operas.
In his little book Die Zauberflöte und die Geheimwissenshaften (1972, The Magic Flute and the Secret Sciences), immediately after quoting the telling words of Ludwig Börne
Ludwig Börne
Karl Ludwig Börne was a German political writer and satirist.-Early life:Karl Ludwig Börne was born Loeb Baruch on May 6, 1786, at Frankfurt am Main, son of Jakob Baruch, a banker. His grandfather had been a government bureaucrat.-Education:Börne and his brothers were privately tutored by Jacob...
, "Mozart's music reflects back everyone's own and present feelings like a mirror, but somewhat ennobled; we recognise in it the poetry of existence", Rosenberg adds his own comment: "In other words, ever since Mozart's time men have in his music recognised their true condition and state cleared of everything that can tarnish it from without; the sensual man recognises himself as the godlike man he has been called to be by nature."