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Amazon.co.uk Review
Mozart's first operatic hit Die Enfuhrung aus dem Serial ("The abduction from the seraglio") was a singspiel, a forerunner of the musical comedy with spoken dialogue between the musical numbers. In this beautifully sung, imaginatively staged production from the Stuttgart Opera House the director Hans Neuenfels splits each character by placing an actor at every singer's side who not only takes over his role for the spoken dialogue but also interacts with his singing double and other characters in the opera. Sometimes the pairing brings a sparring match between actor and singer, adding a further dimension to the drama, at other times the conductor of the orchestra becomes involved, as when Belmonte, the Spanish nobleman, directs him to cue the orchestra for his first aria. The production, in modern dress with each character clearly delineated by the costume designer, takes a few minutes to warm up while we address the director's concept. Osmin, the keeper of the harem is a tattooed thug with a sidekick to match. The aristocratic Konstanze, who has been abducted and imprisoned under him, and her intended Belmonte are in fashionable black, while their two servants are the object of much merriment. The spoken role of the Pasha adds a dramatic frisson to the plans for the abduction. His entry with his retinue walking toward the audience on a raised platform holding stakes topped out with severed heads is a riveting piece of theatre. So too is the final appearance of the ensemble.
But as ever with Mozart there's a human dimension to this tale. The close up camerawork shows the Pasha's reactions and those of Konstanze to his advances as she reveals in a moving aria how she loves another man from whom she was cruelly parted. In Act Two the double duet of reconciliation between Konstanze and Belmonte, Blonde and Pedrillo as they question each others' constancy not only brings a sublime quartet but a heart stopping scene of filmed opera as the camera catches the couples' feet moving toward one another as they embrace in an intimate dance. The continuation here of the action into Act Three without a break (as with the earlier acts) brings a plus factor in dramatic continuity where there would be another interval in the opera house. Aside from one momentary lapse from Belmonte in his last aria, the singing throughout this production, like the orchestral playing under Lothar Zagrosek, matches any version on CD now on the market.
On the DVD: We have the customary choice of subtitles, cues for the musical numbers and a short commentary accompanying a still of the principal characters in the opera.--Adrian Edwards
Special Features
16:9 Wide Screen
Dutch\English\French\Spanish
English\French\Spanish
Dutch\English\French\Spanish
English\French\Spanish
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Awesomely Entertaining, 22 Mar 2009
By S. T. Fine - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Die Entfuehurung Aus Dem Serail [DVD] [NTSC] (DVD)
One of Germany's most cutting edge opera houses, The Stuttgart State Opera, hired Hans Neuenfels in 1998 to prepare a new version of Entfuhrung. The result was voted Production of the Year in the annual Opernwelt awards, and is presented on DVD here. The orchestra is first rate, and though some of the singers seemed weak to me (e.g. Matthias Klink as Belmonte), they certainly didn't detract from Mozart's sublime score.
Neuenfels took the concept of singspiel and turned it into sing/spiel by dividing each of the roles into a singer and an actor. So, 2 Belmontes, 2 Osmins, 2 Pedrillos, 2 Blondes, and 2 Konstanzes (the exception is Pasha Selim, whom Mozart didn't give anything to sing). But it's not so simple as giving the spoken dialogue to the Actor and the sung to the Singer. Neuenfels cut much of Gottlieb Stephanie the Younger's original libreto and wrote a great deal of new dialogue so that the characters are often interacting with themselves or with each others doppelgangers (or even with the orchestra)!
If you like your operas to be old-fashioned stand-and-deliver warhorses in which tradition and the score rule, this production is not for you. On the other hand, if you find opera to be staid, you ought to give this a try. I thought it was brilliant.
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
This is NOT Mozart's Entführung aus dem Serail!, 13 Nov 2001
By David - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Die Entfuehurung Aus Dem Serail [DVD] [NTSC] (DVD)
This was a very disappointing performance, and I question why it was chosen for a DVD. The singing is acceptable, but not what I would consider to be especially inspired. The root of the problem is the production. I was so looking forward to adding this DVD to my collection, as this ranks as one of my favorite operas--thank goodness I checked it out at the library first! It just is not a captivating performance, and it is far too untraditional for my taste. Surely a much better version of this opera will come along on DVD. Until then, you're better off enjoying it on CD and leave the visuals to your mind. It is doubtful your imagination will conjure up anything like this production of annoying mirror images! It is disturbing to say the least and it does nothing to enhance our understanding of Mozart or this opera.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Colorful, Funny, Sexy, Mozart, 20 Sep 2009
By Brent Trafton - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Die Entfuehurung Aus Dem Serail [DVD] [NTSC] (DVD)
I absolutely loved this version of "Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail." It is colorful, funny, and sexy. I'm usually not a big fan of post-modern productions or when they make changes in the libretto but in this case I felt it all worked to make it more enjoyable.
If you have read other reviews, you know that this production is going to divide people. You will probably either really love it or really hate it. Obviously, I really enjoyed it. This was the first production that made me realize how similar to "The Magic Flute," this opera is.
If you love Mozart and you are the adventurous type, you should give this version of "Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail" a try.
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