Oper

Die Entführung aus dem Serail / The Abduction from the Seraglio

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Opera Singspiel in three acts Libretto by Johann Gottlieb Stephanie from a text by Christoph Friedrich Bretzner to the operetta »Belmont und Constanze oder Die Entführung aus dem Serail« by Johann André

Premiere 15. April 2017

Performed in German with German and English supertitles

Piece-Info

Pedrillo, his lover Blonde and Konstanze, having been kidnapped by pirates and dragged into the seraglio by the Pasha, Bassa Selim, hope to be rescued. Konstanze’s fiancé Belmonte attempts to free them – but fails. Only the Pasha himself can grant them their freedom. Orientalism and Enlightenment meet colourful costumes and a fairytale backdrop in this production by the Dutch director and stage designer Michiel Dijkemas. In »The Abduction from the Seraglio«, which premiered in Vienna in 1782, Mozart gathered together numbers that are still some of the most famous in operatic literature such as Konstanze’s aria »Martern aller Arten«, Blonde’s »Welche Wonne, welche Lust«, Pedrillo’s »Auf zum Kampfe« or the exotic Chorus of the Janissaries. 

Plot

Brief summary

A Spaniard travels to Turkey in order to free the lover robbed from him. It soon becomes clear that the abduction is not going to be as easy as he had hoped...

Slightly more detailed summary

Background history
The Spanish lady Constanza, her English maid Blonda and the maid’s lover, Pedrillo, have been abducted by pirates from a ship travelling over the Mediterranean and then purchased by Selim, who is the Pasha in the

services of the Sultan. Since then, Selim has held his prisoners captive in his Turkish territorial dominions. The Spaniard Belmonte was the only one to have escaped from the pirates. He plans to free his love Constanza and the two servants.

Overture
Belmonte struggles through hazardous swampland.

First Act
Has the young Spaniard reached his destination? Will he see his Constanza again in this unreal landscape? His initial contact with the Turkish natives reveals itself as less than uplifting: Osmin, the seraglio overseer, is obviously not willing to communicate with Belmonte. Pedrillo also experiences Osmin’s unpleasantness at first hand. But he knows he is safe, because the Pasha holds him in high esteem. Finally, Pedrillo and Belmonte meet again. Belmonte learns that his Constanza is still alive, but that Selim covets her. This is simultaneously revealed to him in an ostentatious display. Constanza steadfastly rejects the advances made by the Pasha. The Pasha puts pressure on her to love him. But she has promised herself to Belmonte. Disguised as a master builder, Belmonte comes into favour with the Pasha. By tricking Osmin, Pedrillo and Belmonte are able to get within Selim’s sphere of influence.

Second Act
Blonda, Pasha’s present to Osmin, is coveted by him – but without success. She refuses to be suppressed like the Turkish women.The Pasha Selim expects to be loved by Constanza in the end, either through dedication or by force. But she refuses to be forced into love. She would rather die.

PAUSE

Second Act (continued)
Pedrillo explains to Blonda the pending escape plan. For this purpose, he gets Osmin drunk. Having also been put out of action with a sleeping potion, Osmin does not see how Belmonte and Constanza finally reunite. There is now nothing to prevent their mutual escape with Pedrillo und Blonda… or is there? Here jealousy also plays a role…

Third Act
Belmonte and Pedrillo prepare everything for the abduction of their loved ones. Will their plan work? Everything seems to run smoothly. Yet suddenly they are surprised and caught by Osmin, whom they thought was asleep – he triumphs in the circumvention of their escape and drags the four of them before the Pasha. Selim is full of rage at this traitorous act. The Pasha announces a terrible retribution on learning that he has Belmonte, the son of his worst enemy, in his hands. Due to Belmonte’s father, he once had to leave his home and his own love, and lost his honour. The two imprisoned couples wait for death. And yet then a completely unexpected twist in the plot occurs: Pasha Selim gives Belmonte, Constanza, Pedrillo and Blonda their freedom.

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