Article Abstract:
Freud claimed to be ignorant of music, but the number of references he made to Mozart, especially 'The Magic Flute,' suggests otherwise. References occur in a letter to Ida Bondy Fliess written in 1897, a quotation in 'The Interpretation of Dreams' (1900) and a 1909 letter to Ferenczi. Although the Jones biography states that Freud found 'The Magic Flute' disappointing, he later referred to some of the lyrics as profound. Adding a further dimension to Freud's involvement with music, his son Ernst said that Freud used to hum some melodies from Mozart.
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Article Abstract:
Freud referred to the compositions of Beethoven as 'splendid creations' although according to Anna Freud 'he never went to concerts.' Freud may have been exposed to Beethoven's music through radio broadcasts beginning in the 1920s. Freud also could have attended a performance of Goethe's 'Egmont,' which included incidental music by Beethoven but was not a concert. Other possible connections between Freud and Beethoven are explored.
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Article Abstract:
Sigmund Freud refers to a patient as 'my prima donna' in a letter of July 12, 1892 to Wilhelm Fliess. J.M. Masson identifies the patient as 'Cacilie M.,' Freud's first female hysteria patient, whom P.J. Swales later identifies as Anna von Lieben. However, since Freud is known to have treated three singers during that period, he may have been using the term 'prima donna' literally.
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