Clemency and Conversion: Theological Reflections on Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito
This essay suggests that Mozart's serious opera La clemenza di Tito encapsulates both a political philosophy and a theological anthropology, which reflect the composer's dual commitments to the late Enlightenment and Catholicism. I argue that the opera advocates for the rule of law and spe...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Wiley-Blackwell
[2018]
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| In: |
Modern theology
Year: 2018, Volume: 34, Issue: 4, Pages: 637-656 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus 1756-1791, La clemenza di Tito
/ Political philosophy
/ Theological anthropology
/ Catholicism
/ Grace
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| IxTheo Classification: | CD Christianity and Culture KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history KDB Roman Catholic Church NBK Soteriology |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | This essay suggests that Mozart's serious opera La clemenza di Tito encapsulates both a political philosophy and a theological anthropology, which reflect the composer's dual commitments to the late Enlightenment and Catholicism. I argue that the opera advocates for the rule of law and specifically for a renewed (Beccarian) understanding of clemency as general lenience in punishing rather than as the absolute ruler's extraordinary use of pardons based in his liberum arbitrium. At the same time, Mozart's Clemenza offers the audience a Christian account of the journey from concupiscence and sin to salvation, caused by mercy, love, and suffering. |
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| ISSN: | 1468-0025 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Modern theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1111/moth.12438 |