Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

The role of Osmin is one of the greatest comic roles in all opera, that of Constanza one of the most taxing for a soprano and that of Belmonte one of the most romantic for a tenor.

Every young lover's nightmare must be to have his beloved carried off for the white slave trade. This happened; Aimée Dubuc de Rivery, who was seized by pirates and eventually became sultana of Turkey, is an example. She never returned to France but in Mozart's opera the hero, Belmonte, finds his beloved Constanza and rescues her. All ends happily with an interesting topical twist on the relationship between Christians and Muslims.

This comic opera is vibrant, romantic and full of joie de vivre and good tunes. The lively rhythm and rich scoring for percussion gives the music a Turkish flavour which was very popular in Mozart's Vienna .

Die Entführung aus dem Serail will be performed
at Opéra de Baugé on 31 July, 3, 5 and 7 August