Mozart's first great success on the Viennese stage was this 1782 “singspiel,” which is by definition a piece that alternates musical numbers with spoken dialogue. Modern productions generally pare the latter to a minimum, although that is not the case here with David McVicar's 2015 Glyndebourne mounting, which—like Christof Loy's 2010 staging from Barcelona (VL-7/12)—retains everything, making for a long and more serious performance, transforming what is ordinarily a sprightly comedy into a larger drama of love and forgiveness. Robin Ticciati leads the period-instrument Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in a reading of the score that emphasizes its darker elements without becoming lugubrious, and the vocalism is excellent, with Sally Matthews's silvery soprano shining in the role of Konstanze—a young woman romanced by her Turkish captor, Pasha Selim (Franck Saurel, imposing in a non-singing role)—and Edgaras Montvidas exhibiting a solid if somewhat nasal tenor as Belmonte, the Spanish nobleman who comes to rescue her. Brenden Gunnell and Mari Eriksmoen are also engaging as the comic servants who become the couple's confederates, but the outstanding turn here comes from Tobias Kehrer, who not only manages the very low notes that Mozart assigned to the Pasha's overseer Osmin, but also makes the usually buffoonish character into a genuinely menacing figure. Boasting striking sets and costumes designed by Vicki Mortimer, this is an assured and elegant production that also incorporates well-chosen excerpts from other works by Mozart as background music in a few dramatic scenes. Presented in DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette and a cast gallery. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
(2015) 168 min. In German w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99. Opus Arte (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 32, Issue 1
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
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