From Mozart to Berghain: Rosalía’s LUX Bridges Centuries of Musical Temptation
Rosalía's new album LUX, created in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Daníel Bjarnason, spans centuries of musical allure. It connects eras from the age of Mozart to contemporary club culture, blending classical and modern sounds.
Historical Musical Context
Before the frenzy of Beatlemania, there was Lisztomania. Before club-goers danced closely to electronic beats, people waltzed in beer halls and sang passionate operas. The feelings of desire and excitement remain timeless, but preferences transform. What was once the irresistible 3/4 waltz gave way to popular 4/4 rhythms for hundreds of years.
Spiritual and Philosophical Themes
LUX reflects Rosalía’s personal spirituality, shaped by her Catholic roots, classical philosophy, new age influences, Islam, and her own unique connection to God. The album is both a musical and intellectual dialogue with past traditions and contemporary ideas.
Connection to Mozart’s Don Giovanni
The album aligns philosophically and structurally with Mozart’s Don Giovanni, featuring the notorious, witty nobleman Don Juan. In the opera, Don Giovanni repeatedly escapes danger until he confronts an unbeatable force. After being dragged to Hell, the chorus declares:
"Questo è il fin di chi fa mal, e de’ perfidi la morte alla vita è sempre ugual."
This is the end of one who does evil, and for the wicked, death is like life.
Similarly, LUX places Rosalía and her characters in moral peril, concluding her narrative with an ultimate fate: death.
Summary
Rosalía’s LUX artfully connects centuries of musical and spiritual themes, weaving classical influences with modern sounds into a deeply personal and philosophical journey.
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