Escape from the Seraglio

О событии

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's beloved singspiel, "Escape from the Seraglio", will be performed at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.

 

The opera, with a libretto by Johann Gottlieb Stephanie, was premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienna in 1782. It was composed under the patronage of Emperor Joseph II as part of his plan to create a German national opera, though in fact it follows the pattern of Italian opera buffa and French opéra‐comique.

 

The quality of the music - both vocal and instrumental - did however signify the renewal of the genre. In terms of plot it is a turquerie, a type of work that conjured up the exotic image of the Near East that was fashionable at the time, while providing a vehicle for social and political criticism. Konstanze, a noble Spanish lady, her English servant Blonde, and Pedrillo, the servant of Konstanze's fiancé Belmonte, have been abducted by Moorish pirates and handed over to the Pasha Selim, who imprisons them in his seraglio. Selim soon falls in love with Konstanze, however, while Osmin, their coarse, cruel jailer, takes an interest in Blonde. Belmonte manages to enter the palace in a bid to rescue them. But just as the two couples are about to flee, they are captured by Selim, the counter‐figure of the modern, enlightened monarch, who decides, nevertheless, to pardon and release them.

 

Enjoy this delightful work, performed with an excellent cast of singers at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.  

 

Stage Director: Christof Loy
Set and costume design: Herbert Murauer
Light Design: Olaf Winter
Co‐production: Théâtre Royal de la Monaie / Oper Frankfurt

Musical Director: Ivor Bolton

 

Cast in April 2010:

Constanze: Diana Damrau (12, 15, 18, 21, 23) and Agneta Eichenholz (13, 16, 19, 22)

Blondchen: Olga Peretyatko (12, 15, 18, 21, 23) and Hendrikje van
Kerckhove (13, 16, 19, 22)

Belmonte: Christoph Strehl (12, 15, 18, 21, 23) and Pavol Breslik (13, 16, 19, 22)

 

In some areas of the Gran Teatre del Liceu it is possible to be seated with a partially obstructed view of the stage. The Gran Teatre del Liceu recommends Zone 2 for the finest and completely unobstructed view of the performance. The stage is not visable from seats starting in row 2 of Zone 8.  A monitor is provided for following the performance in this section. Only available for operas.