Here, my old chum Dr Crippen writes in praise of Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro.
“His favourite opera, however, surely the yardstick, the most perfect opera ever written, is Figaro. Figaro will be the one he will keep on the Desert Island, particularly Act Two* if he cannot have it all.”
It’s difficult to disagree. In the year we are celebrating the 250th aniversary of Mozart’s birth, his favourite opera and his professional duty to his patients are rising in the same constellation.
Dr. C. has perhaps missed this pearl from the our future
monarch found on his website here.
“In the “Mozart Effect”, studied experimentally over the last ten years, it appears that the presence of profound artistic unities paves the way for the free flow of intelligence and creativity, and also the healing of the physical body. The built environment has a similar capacity.”
Of course, like much of Charles’ outpourings on alternative medicine, it’s a load of tosh. There is absolutley no clinical evidence supporting such proposition, though that does not stop the loonies hopping on board. This one, the "Mozart Effect®" is particularly interesting. It’s fascinating to see that little ® after “Mozart Effect”.
Like homeopathy available on the NHS perhaps Dr. C. could invite his local Primary Care Trust into funding “Mozart Effect ®” for his patients.
And if he can squeeze that past the bean counters, who have, it seems, given the OK to magnetic bandages, there are other barmy ones just waiting on the substitutes bench.
Try the brainGym ®, and this from over the pond.
All that Mozart will surely make those rectal exams at least bearable!
*and if you can't have all of Act 2 the finale will do for me.
Yes, I agree, we can all get into too much navel contemplation, and pseudoanalysis. I read endless stuff on the merits and skills of Mozart.
At the end of the day though, the analysis is simple. He wrote good tunes. Over and over again. Endlessly. Brilliantly. Better than anyone before or since. Mozart makes me quiver and tingle more than any other musician that ever lived.
And Figaro particularly!
John
Posted by: Dr John Crippen | 07 March 2006 at 05:29 PM