Local review of the joint production of the Hungarian State Opera and the Budapest Palace of Arts in the Royal Opera House Muscat, Oman.
"Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio at ROHM – “That’s What I Call Daring”
Posted on March 26, 2012
WOW! What a performance by the Hungarian State Opera!
Tonight’s opera was my favorite so far. The plot is easy enough to follow and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s brilliant opera which premiered in Vienna 230 years ago continues to entertain! Tonight I find myself with a new found sense of respect for Mozart and for the Royal Opera House Muscat. Before tonight, my knowledge of Mozart might have been limited to this Falco classic from the 80′s (half-jokingly):
“The Abduction from the Seraglio” (which could also be titled “Escape from a Harlem“) comes with much controversy. I am fascinated with the decision of the Royal Opera House Muscat to choose this opera. I’m sure that the Hungarian State Opera had to do much planning to avoid any serious cultural faux-pas when presenting this opera here in a Muslim nation. The plot, you see, revolves around 2 Christian maidens being sold to a Muslim regent of high repute after their ship was taken by pirates. Their brave Christian sweethearts dare to attempt a rescue and even manage to get the servant drunk in hopes that his intoxication will lay the grounds for their escape! In the end, Pasha Selim sets them all free even though his servant mourns the lost opportunity to slay them all, especially the sweetheart of the English slavegirl he has come to love called ”Blonde”. That’s quite a story to perform in Muscat, Oman, don’t you think?! ”
„The actor playing Bassa Selim, Franz Tscherne, never actually sang. There was quite a bit of non-singing dialogue in this production of Mozart’s.
There was an announcement that the lead female singer, Elena Mosuc, playing the role of Konstanze, was sick but would still sing and asked for the audience’s understanding and patience. She ended up singing beautifully! Our friends were joking during the 1st intermission that singers should announce that at each performance because their singing will seem all the more beautiful.
The singer, Kurt Rydl, who played the role of Osmin, the assistant to Pasha stole the show with his singing and acting. Of course the fact that his role is such a hilarious one surely helps! What an incredible performer! He definitely had the loudest applause during the curtain call. The other singers were incredible as well including Rainer Trost as “Belmonte”, Rita Raez as “Blond”, and Peter Balezo as “Pedrillo”. The best parts by far were when more than one singer would sing at the same time like Osmin, Pedrillo and Belmonte singing together comically at the end of Act 1 and when the quartet of Belmonte, Konstanze, Pedrillo and Blonde sign their beautiful song in Act 2 questioning whether the ladies had remained faithful during their imprisonment. (“Ach Belmonte! Ach, mein Leben.” “Ah, Belmonte, ah my dear one!”)
Bravo, Hungarian State Opera! Bravo, Palace of Arts Budapest! Bravo, Royal Opera House Muscat! ”
Source: Hungarian State Opera