Inspiration is an awakening, a quickening of all man's faculties, and it is manifested in all high artistic achievements. ―Puccini |
The Secret Teachings of Opera"When religion becomes artificial, art has a duty to rescue it. Art can show that the symbols which religions would have us believe literally true are actually figurative. Art can idealize those symbols, and so reveal the profound truths they contain… I believe in God, Mozart and Beethoven, and likewise their disciples and apostles; —I believe in the Holy Spirit and the truth of the one, indivisible Art; —I believe that this Art proceeds from God, and lives within the hearts of all illumined men; —I believe that he who once has bathed in the sublime delights of this high Art, is consecrate to Her forever, and never can deny Her;—I believe that through Art all men are saved." ―Richard Wagner |
Millions of people enjoy, admire, and venerate the works of the great classical composers. However, very few understand that these titans and paragons of music: Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Puccini, etc., knew, followed, and taught the secret path of initiation in their art.
Art was used to express cosmic principles—the nature of the soul and its path to reuniting with divinity—before humanity degenerated through the abuse of mind, heart, and sexuality. Since the ancient mysteries schools were not allowed to disseminate the secret knowledge to the public, the initiates composed operas, because the symbolism of their characters, narratives, and music could communicate profound psychological truths to neophytes without danger of scrutiny and persecution from the uninitiated, vulgar masses.
Opera is the divine amalgamation of music and drama, the alchemy of theatre and the sacred verb, since “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The initiates never forgot that music, dance, and the operatic arts could educate the consciousness and offer guidance for the path of the inner realization of the Self. They also understood that students learned and remembered the secret teachings not only through intellectual study, but through the intelligence of the body and heart.
Divine art expresses the language of consciousness, which is synthesized as the secret knowledge of alchemy and kabbalah. By studying and practicing the kabbalistic and alchemical teachings, disciples can interpret the esoteric wisdom of royal operatic art for the enrichment, elevation, and development of their soul.
Art was used to express cosmic principles—the nature of the soul and its path to reuniting with divinity—before humanity degenerated through the abuse of mind, heart, and sexuality. Since the ancient mysteries schools were not allowed to disseminate the secret knowledge to the public, the initiates composed operas, because the symbolism of their characters, narratives, and music could communicate profound psychological truths to neophytes without danger of scrutiny and persecution from the uninitiated, vulgar masses.
Opera is the divine amalgamation of music and drama, the alchemy of theatre and the sacred verb, since “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The initiates never forgot that music, dance, and the operatic arts could educate the consciousness and offer guidance for the path of the inner realization of the Self. They also understood that students learned and remembered the secret teachings not only through intellectual study, but through the intelligence of the body and heart.
Divine art expresses the language of consciousness, which is synthesized as the secret knowledge of alchemy and kabbalah. By studying and practicing the kabbalistic and alchemical teachings, disciples can interpret the esoteric wisdom of royal operatic art for the enrichment, elevation, and development of their soul.
The spiritual concert is forbidden to ordinary people because of the continued maintenance of their egos. It is permissible for renunciates because of their pursuit of inner struggle. It is recommended for our companions (initiates), for the sake of the life of their hearts. ―Abu Ali al-Daqqaq in Al-Risalah: Principles of Sufism by Al-Qushayri