Mozart’s “Die Entführung aus dem Serail” (“Abduction From the Seraglio”) is being revived at the Metropolitan Opera under the able conducting of James Levine. The ovations at the start of each act were an expression of appreciation for his long service as the Met’s music director. He is also credited with bringing this opera back in the company’s repertoire, since it was not performed at the Met from 1946 until 1979.
This is a singspiel opera, meaning that there is spoken German dialogue between the musical numbers. The subject is one that was common in the late 18th century: Western women in Turkish captivity. Though there are references in the libretto to torture, forced sex, and other atrocities, the tone is comic and the score is captivating, with comic arias as well as those revealing a depth of feeling.
When the opera begins in Turkey, Konstanze, a Spanish woman; Blondchen, her English maid; and Pedrillo, the servant of Konstanze’s fiancé, Belmonte, are prisoners. They had been captured by pirates and sold to Pasha Selim.
Blondchen has been given to his overseer Osmin by the pasha, but the maid rejects his advances, just as Konstanze refuses the pasha’s expressions of love.
Belmonte arrives in the hopes of managing the escape of his beloved. He runs into Osmin but makes the mistake of mentioning Pedrillo, who is serving as gardener but whom Osmin knows is his rival for Blondchen’s affections.
