Content area
Full text
Abstract:
Nietzsche's fascination for Bizet's opera is not the outcome of an accidental caprice. We shall look for the metaphoric illustrations of his philosophical thinking contained in this opera - which was not intended to be Nietzschean at all - and which are the canters that emanate fascination and horror towards the audience, but have inspired the philosopher as well.
Keywords: Friedrich Nietzsche, Georges Bizet, opera Carmen, superman, metaphor.
On 27th November 1881, Nietzsche attended for the first time the presentation of the opera Carmen by Bizet in Politeama theatre in Genova. After the performance he wrote to his sister:
Yesterday I saw an opera entitled Carmen [composed] by a French composer named Bizet and it was moving. So powerful passionate, so gracious and southern in style.1
And at the same time to his musician friend Peter Gast2:
Hooray! My friend, I found something good, an opera by Francois Bizet3 (who is he?): Carmen. His work is like a short story by Mérimée, spiritual, strong, sometimes emotional. A pure talent of the French comic opera not confused by Wagner, on the other hand, a true disciple of Berlioz. I never thought this could be possible. It seems that French are on the best way in dramatic music, and they have an obvious advantage to the Germans in an important question: to them passion is not exaggerated (as at Wagner, for example)4.
Shortly after, he bought a score of the opera (piano version), which he read, reviewed favourably and sent to the same friend as proof for his first letter. Peter Gast' s reply contains a beautiful compliment addressed to the philosopher: "you are more talented in music than me, the musician!" 5 He saw the opera for a couple of times, after which he wrote again to Peter Gast:
My friend, yesterday I saw Carmen again, perhaps the twentieth performance in this year, with the house closed as always, is the opera of operas [...] I feel lucky. From the opera, comes to me a deep sense that I intend to retain. 6
He continued in The Case of Wagner:
Yesterday - would you believe it? - 1 heard Bizet's masterpiece for the twentieth time. Once more I attended with the same gentle...