From Mozart to Berghain: Rosalía’s LUX Bridges Musical Eras
Rosalía’s new album LUX merges centuries of musical styles, created in collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra. While modern club scenes pulse with 4/4 beats, earlier generations danced waltzes in 3/4 time, expressing timeless emotions through evolving tastes. Just as music changes, so does spirituality.
Musical and Spiritual Fusion
LUX reflects Rosalía’s personal spirituality, shaped by her Catholic background, classical philosophy, new age influences, and Islam, revealing her unique connection with God. Conducted by Daníel Bjarnason, the album interacts with both past popular music and philosophical ideas.
Influence of Mozart’s Don Giovanni
The album shares philosophical and structural elements with Mozart’s Don Giovanni, featuring the story of Don Juan, a reckless nobleman who repeatedly escapes danger until confronting an unstoppable force. After Don Giovanni is dragged to Hell, the chorus sings:
“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.”
LUX places Rosalía and her characters in moral peril, culminating in a narrative that reflects on human mortality.
Legacy and Meaning
Before Beatlemania, there was Lisztomania; before contemporary club culture, there were beer hall waltzes and passionate operas. LUX connects these traditions, expressing enduring human experiences through evolving artistic forms.
Author’s summary: Rosalía’s LUX artfully links historical and modern music, exploring spirituality and morality at the intersection of classical and contemporary worlds.