Die Entführung aus dem Serail

Synopsis

August Everding staged Mozart's Singspiel "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" (The Abduction from the Seraglio) in Munich's National Theater as a sunny comic opera but, as the director says, one with the "depth" required by Mozart. The buffo characters, for instance, take on compellingly human traits. The stage consists of a bright, orientally suggestive architecture, whose elements are constantly sliding or revolving. The set designer Max Bignens speaks of a "choreographic" setting: "For Mozart's music, we wanted nothing heavy and, above all, no major scene changes." Karl Böhm, who conducted his first "Entführung" in 1924, plunges into the depths of the music and uncovers its magic and brilliance, its eros and spirituality. At the center of the performance is Edita Gruberova, whose coloraturas are dazzling and always precise. As Osmin, Martti Talvela is a supple, shifty swaggerer. Thomas Holtzmann speaks the Bassa Selim as a nervous, passionate potentate. Francisco Araiza sings Belmonte with glowing lyricism. Norbert Orth is a spirited Pedrillo and Reri Grist a Blondchen with a natural charm and musical sensitivity.

Additional Info

• No: A05004570
• Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Conductor: Karl Böhm
• Orchestra: Bayerisches Staatsorchester
• Artists: Francisco Araiza, Edita Gruberová, Reri Grist, Norbert Orth, Martti Talvela, Thomas Holtzmann
• Production year: 1980
• Run time: 02:31:00
• Director: Karlheinz Hundorf / August Everding
• Producers: Unitel
• Format: Normal