The Abduction From The Seraglio at Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center

Mozart first conquered Vienna with his vivacious comedy The Abduction from the Seraglio, which features rollicking Turkish-flavored music, virtuosic solo singing, stupendous duets and ensembles, and the exotic setting of a Turkish harem. A freewheeling tale of two women purchased from pirates by the Pasha Selim and their eventual rescue by their lovers, the work’s style is strongly similar to that of The Magic Flute, with even more death-defyingly difficult acrobatic singing by both of the women and the Pasha’s servant, the comically lecherous bass Osmin.

Konstanze defies all attempts at seduction by the Pasha and sings one of the most difficult high-flying arias of the soprano repertoire, “Martern aller Arten” (“Tortures of all kinds”) in resisting his offer to take her into his harem. Blonde, her pert English maid, likewise rejects Osmin, whose virtuosic runs and sepulchral low notes mark the deep end of Mozart’s operatic output.

With their help of their Spanish lovers, Belmonte and his servant Pedrillo, the imprisoned women nearly make their escape, aided by two ladders and copious amounts of spiked wine. They are captured nevertheless. Fortunately, Pasha Selim shows his magnanimity, and the opera jubilantly concludes in a burst of dazzling high spirits as the lovers praise their selfless benefactor and prepare to set sail. It’s a sparkling trip you’ll be glad you made!