大象传媒

Recorded Autumn 2020 in Vienna, this is the opera that famously has "too many notes" according to the emperor in the film Amadeus, and yet the Abduction was an immediate success. The eastern influence of Turkey was the fashion of the time, and the opera was hugely popular. A humorous tale, the love story centres around Belmonte, a Spanish aristocrat and Konstanza, his betrothed who is captured by pirates and sold into the harem of Bassa Selim, a Turkish pasha. A rescue mission ensues and although Belmonte finds Konstanze, getting out the Seraglio proves an almost impossible task.

Lisette Oropesa is the virtuosic Konstanze, Daniel Behle is Belmonte and Antonello Manacorda conducts the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

Presented by Kate Molleson with guest Timothy Jones

Christian Nickel, [spoken role], Pasha Selim
Belmonte鈥�.. Daniel Behle (tenor)
Belmonte (actor) 鈥�..Christian Natter
Konstanze鈥�.. Lisette Oropesa (soprano)
Konstanze (actor) 鈥�..Emanuela von Frankenberg,
Blondchen鈥�.. Regula M眉hlemann (soprano)
Blondchen (actor) 鈥�..Stella Roberts
Osmin, overseer for the Pasha鈥�..Goran Juri膰 (tenor)
Osmin (actor) 鈥�..Andreas Gr枚tzinger
Pedrillo, Belmonte's servant鈥�..Michael Laurenz (tenor)
Pedrillo (actor) 鈥�.. Ludwig Blochberger
member of soloist quartet鈥�..Svenja Kallweit (soprano)
member of soloist quartet鈥�..Mari Nakayama (mezzo-soprano)
member of soloist quartet鈥�..Tamas Katona (tenor)
member of soloist quartet鈥�..Peter Dolin拧ek (bass)
Vienna State Opera Chorus
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Antonello Manacorda (conductor)

Part One

The Spanish nobleman Belmonte arrives at the estate of Bassa Selim searching for his lost fiance虂e 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 禄still has enough sensitivity, that none of his wives were ever forced into love芦. Belmonte is shortly convinced of this as he secretly watches the Bassa and his entourage with Konstanze鈥檚 appear. The Bassa again succumbs to Konstanze鈥檚 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 infatuated Turk. Again, Bassa Selim tries to gain Konstanze鈥檚 favour although she feels obligated to Belmonte. She would rather suffer the offended the Bassa鈥檚 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 recognises 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鈥檚 generosity, except Osmin who does not portray correctly, boiling in an impotent, helpless rage.

The Bassa is left alone.