Sollers' Mysterious Mozart: A Literary Immersion

In a review of Philippe Sollers' book "Mystérieux Mozart," Jacques Henric explores Sollers' unique approach to understanding Mozart's life and work. Henric argues that Sollers does not seek a hidden mystery in Mozart but rather an initiation into a cult accessible only to initiates, as suggested by the etymology of "mystery." Sollers proposes a topological view of Mozart as "a sphere whose circumference is everywhere and center nowhere," challenging romantic ideologies. Henric contrasts specialist approaches with the amateur's immersive method, which involves listening actively and translating music into writing. Sollers' book is described as luminous and profound, where love of music becomes love of God's soul, leading to extreme lucidity, including sexual lucidity. Henric emphasizes that Sollers prioritizes music over libretti, analyzing instruments and forms to reveal anxiety, joy, gravity, and serenity. He claims Mozart's music, over two centuries later, still illuminates contemporary events like terrorism and fanaticism. Sollers' method includes visiting Mozart's sites, such as his birthplace in Salzburg, to sense the composer's environment. Henric concludes that Sollers maintains distance while grasping the essence of thought through all senses.