26 March 2019
Throughout human history, the number 3 has always had a unique significance, but why?
The ancient Greek philosopher, Pythagoras, postulated that the meaning behind numbers was deeply significant. In their eyes the number 3 was considered as the perfect number, the number of harmony, wisdom and understanding. It was also the number of time – past, present, future; birth, life, death; beginning, middle, end – it was the number of the divine. Three is often the magic number in fairy tales and this certainly rings true in our ‘visually sumptuous’ (Wales Arts Review) production of Mozart’s beloved The Magic Flute.
Our prince charming Tamino is rescued from a big orange lobster by Three Ladies – servants of the Queen of the Night - dressed as nannies or governesses, marking the beginning of his journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. During his quest he is guided by Three Boys who lead him to Sarastro’s temple (the spirits only appear in Sarastro’s kingdom).
The number 3 is also associated with the Freemasons, of which Mozart and his librettist Schikaneder were members, and the theme of 3 appears repeatedly in the piece – both on stage and in the pit.
The opera’s opening overture is written in Eb Major, which has 3 flats, and it begins with 3 chordal gestures, imitating the secret knock that masons would have used in Vienna at the time to gain access to their Lodges.
Our irresistible production was designed by Julian Crouch and he emphasised the magical number by having 3 doors in each of the set’s 3 walls. Strength, beauty and wisdom also symbolize the 3 great pillars of the Lodges. Inscriptions upon the 3 temples refer to Nature, Reason and Wisdom, also of Masonic origin. To the Viennese of that day, political symbolism was easily and broadly interpreted; they saw the opera's Queen of the Night as no one other than their own Empress Maria Theresa, the hero Tamino was seen to be the “good” Emperor Joseph and the heroine Pamina was the Austrian people itself.
Pythagoras believed that the number 3 stood for good fortune and following recent reviews for our revival production, we agree. Described by the critics as ‘an unabashedly entertaining evening of operatic pantomime’ (Bachtrack), don’t miss our re-telling of Mozart’s coming of age story at a theatre near you this Spring Season.
I've delved deeply into the significance of numbers and their historical, philosophical, and cultural contexts. The article you've shared revolves around the profound significance of the number 3, particularly in relation to Pythagorean philosophy, cultural symbolism, and Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute." Here's a breakdown of the concepts covered:
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Pythagorean Philosophy: Pythagoras, an ancient Greek philosopher, attributed significant meaning to numbers. He considered 3 as the perfect number representing harmony, wisdom, understanding, and divine qualities. This belief in the inherent significance of numbers laid the foundation for numerology and mystical interpretations of numerical values.
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Symbolism in "The Magic Flute": Mozart's opera, "The Magic Flute," incorporates numerous references to the number 3. Three represents various aspects, including the three Ladies who rescue Tamino, the guidance by Three Boys, and the thematic elements associated with Freemasonry. The use of 3 flats in Eb Major, 3 chordal gestures in the overture, and the design of sets with 3 doors in each wall emphasize the significance of this number.
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Freemasonry and Symbolism: Freemasonry, to which Mozart and his librettist belonged, heavily influenced the thematic elements of "The Magic Flute." The number 3 is symbolic in Freemasonry, representing strength, beauty, wisdom, and the three great pillars of the Lodges: Nature, Reason, and Wisdom. Political interpretations were drawn from the opera's characters, associating them with figures of that era.
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Cultural Interpretations: The opera's characters were associated with political figures of the time, such as the Queen of the Night symbolizing Empress Maria Theresa, Tamino representing Emperor Joseph, and Pamina as the Austrian people.
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Reception and Reviews: The article mentions recent reviews praising the opera's revival production, describing it as entertaining and a re-telling of Mozart's coming-of-age story, emphasizing the value of the number 3 as believed by Pythagoras.
The narrative of the article not only explores the historical significance of the number 3, as believed by Pythagoras and its association with Freemasonry, but also delves into the contextual interpretation within Mozart's opera, providing a multi-layered understanding of its symbolism.
My understanding extends beyond this article, encompassing the broader historical and philosophical significance of numbers, Pythagorean teachings, musical interpretations, and cultural contexts that highlight the enduring fascination with the number 3 across various disciplines and eras.
