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Die Entführung aus dem Serail

on October 16, 2020
This is the page for the performance on October 16, 2020.
If you would like to attend a performance of this production, you will find further dates below.
Music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Text Johann Gottlieb Stephanie in der Dialogfassung von Hans Neuenfels
→ Ein deutsches Singspiel in drei Aufzügen

Future dates

20. March 2024
Wednesday
19.30 - 22.30
1 intermission
Buy tickets
23. March 2024
Saturday
19.30 - 22.30
1 intermission
Buy tickets

Cast 16.10.2020

Conductor Antonello Manacorda
Production Hans Neuenfels
Stage Design Christian Schmidt
Costume Design Bettina Merz
Lighting Design Stefan Bolliger
Dramaturgie und Regiemitarbeit Henry Arnold
Director's Assistant Sophie Louise Busch
Assistant to the Set Designer Sascha Roeder
Bassa Selim Christian Nickel
Konstanze Lisette Oropesa
Konstanze - Schauspielerin Emanuela von Frankenberg
Blonde Regula Mühlemann
Blonde - Schauspielerin Stella Roberts
Osmin Goran Jurić
Osmin - Schauspieler Andreas Grötzinger
Belmonte Daniel Behle
Belmonte - Schauspieler Christian Natter
Pedrillo Michael Laurenz
Pedrillo - Schauspieler Ludwig Blochberger

Details

Summary
Belmonte arrives at Bassa Selim's estate in search of his fiancée Konstanze, who has been kidnapped by pirates along with Blonde and her lover Pedrillo. He has bought the three of them as slaves and fallen in love with Konstanze. However, she wants to remain faithful to Belmonte and is prepared to endure the torture she is threatened with. A planned escape by Belmonte and the three prisoners fails. The Bassa recognizes Belmonte's plea for mercy as the son of his mortal enemy, who once stole his beloved and forced him to leave his homeland. But he gives everyone their freedom: »If you can't win someone over by doing them good, you have to get rid of them.«


About this work
For decades, Mozart's "Die Entführung aus dem Serail" was not staged at the Vienna State Opera. Since 2020, this work – during Mozart's lifetime, the most successful of his stage works – has been brought back in the masterful production by Hans Neuenfels. By doubling all vocal roles with actresses and actors, Neuenfels succeeded in bringing the inner conflicts of the characters to life through highly poetic reflections on the stage. Alongside Mozart, who, in this piece, not only created a comedy but also encapsulated existential questions of his characters and humanity in music, the audience in this production delves deep into the various emotional layers of the characters.

Program booklet (2,50€)


Part One

The Spanish nobleman Belmonte arrives at the estate of Bassa Selim searching for his lost fiancée Konstanze. She was kidnapped by sea pirates together with her servant, the English maid Blonde and his own servant Pedrillo. He meets Osmin the supervisor of the estate who hostilely refuses him any helpful information. Only after reuniting with his servant Pedrillo does Belmonte learn that Konstanze, as well as the pair Blonde and Pedrillo, were bought as slaves by Bassa Selim. The Bassa loves Konstanze but she has never answered his requests. As a European converted to Islam, he »still has enough sensitivity, that none of his wives were ever forced into love«. Belmonte is shortly convinced of this as he secretly watches the Bassa and his entourage with Konstanze’s appear. The Bassa again succumbs to Konstanze’s wish to postpone her decision. Pedrillo is able to present Belmonte to Bassa Selim as an architect and builder, whereby making it able for him to gain entrance to the palace, against the resistance and opposition of Osmin.

Although given as a slave to Osmin as a gift, Blonde is very self-assured and knows exactly how to defend herself from the romantic approaches of the infa- tuated Turk. Again, Bassa Selim tries to gain Konstanze’s favour although she feels obligated to Belmonte. She would rather suffer the offended the Bassa’s tortures than be unfaithful to Belmonte.


Part Two

The desired reunion is fast approaching and Belmonte is waiting for his beloved. As the two European couples finally face each other, their joy becomes severely troubled: Belmonte and Pedrillo suddenly doubt the faithfulness of their women. Konstanze and Blonde are deeply hurt.

The planned midnight abduction of the women fails, because Osmin wakes up from his drunken stupor arranged by Pedrillo too soon. Osmin realizes his hour of revenge has come at last. As Belmonte begs for mercy, the Bassa recognizes him as the son of his archrival, the man who once stole his beloved from him and forced him to flee his homeland.

Both couples await their deaths. However, the Bassa gives them their freedom: »If one cannot gain your favour even by good deeds, then one should get rid of you.« Everyone joins in a song of praise of Bassa’s generosity, except Osmin who does not portray correctly, boiling in an impotent, helpless rage.

The Bassa is left alone.

Sponsor

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