Opera Guide and Synopsis: The Abduction from the Seraglio, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio) was possibly conceived by the Emperor Joseph II himself. It was intended for a visit to Austria by Grand Duke Paul Petrovich of Russia, at which the two empires would discuss how to divide the Ottoman land, but Mozart was unable to finish it in time due to the poor quality of the libretto, written by Christoph Brentzner. At Mozart's request, Gottlieb Stephanie revised the libretto, and the opera premiered on July 16, 1782 in Vienna.

The subject - a man attempting to rescue his love from an Ottoman harem - inspired Mozart to include in his opera Western imitations of Turkish music. He had employed this style for a previous (and unfinished) Singspiel, Zaide, which followed a very similar storyline. Although The Abduction from the Seraglio, composed when Mozart was twenty-six years old, was not his first opera, it is the earliest of his operas to be commonly performed today.

Characters in The Abduction from the Seraglio

• Belmonte, a Spanish nobleman (Tenor)
• Pedrillio, his servant (Tenor)
• Konstanze, Belmonte's betrothed (Soprano)
• Blonde, her servant (Soprano)
• Pasha Selim (Spoken)
• Osmin, his servant (Bass)

Synopsis of The Abduction from the Seraglio

Act I

Belmonte arrives at Pasha Selim's palace, intending to rescue his love Konstanze and their servants, who have been captured. He encounters Osmin, who first ignores him and then finally affirms that this is Pasha Selim's palace. When Belmonte mentions Pedrillo, however, Osmin becomes very angry. When Belmonte leaves, Pedrillo enters and is threatened by Osmin, who lists all the various ways he'd like to kill him.

Osmin leaves, and Belmonte enters to find Pedrillo, who plans to trick Osmin by getting Pasha Selim to hire Belmonte as an architect. Pasha Selim and Konstanze arrive. He begs her to love him of her own free will, but she rejects him, asking for more time. Pasha Selim allows Belmonte into the palace despite Osmin's objections.

Act II

Osmin attempts to force Blonde to love him, but she rejects and threatens him. Tired of waiting for Konstanze to love him, Pasha Selim threatens her with torture if she does not accept him by the next day; he admires her courageous refusal, however, and plans to use trickery instead.

Pedrillo tells Blonde that Belmonte has come to rescue him, and that he will distract Osmin by feeding him a sleeping potion mixed with wine. Blonde goes to give the good news to Konstanze. Pedrillo and Osmin drink while singing in praise to Bacchus, and Osmin falls asleep.

Belmonte and Pedrillo, having heard rumors that Konstanze gave in to Pasha Selim and Blonde to Osmin, question their lovers' faithfulness. The women are hurt by such accusations, all is sorted out, and the two couples prepare to escape.

Act III

That night, Belmonte and Pedrillo bring ladders to rescue Konstanze and Blonde, but Osmin wakes and catches them. Belmonte offers to pay a ransom for the prisoners, but Pasha Selim, learning that Belmonte is the son of an enemy who stole his wealth long ago, threatens to kill them. Belmonte and Konstanze prepare to die together in love, but Pasha Selim ultimately decides to rise above the actions of Belmonte's "barbarian" father and let the prisoners free. Osmin becomes angry and makes violent threats, but the others sing in praise of Pasha Selim.

Sources

The Opera Goer's Complete Guide, by Leo Melitz

Die Entführung aus dem Serail from The Mozart Project

Die Entführung aus dem Serail Libretto