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Chandos
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The
Abduction from the Seraglio
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The Abduction from the Seraglio is set in the harem of Turkish sultan Pasha Selim, who is holding captive Constanza, her servant, Blonda, and Pedrillo. Constanza refuses the Pasha's attentions as she is in love with Pedrillo's master, Belmonte, and resigns herself to death rather than betray her love for him. Osmin, one of the Pasha's stewards, tries to woo Blonda but her affections, too, are otherwise engaged – to Pedrillo. Belmonte has traced their whereabouts and Pedrillo plots to introduce him to the Pasha as an architect. An escape plan for the four lovers is foiled by Osmin who drags the fugitives before the Pasha. Finally, despite the fact that Belmonte is the son of the man who forced the Pasha into exile, in a transfiguring gesture the ruler generously and unconditionally allows the four lovers their freedom. |
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart The Abduction from the Seraglio |
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The opera's genre – that of the 'Turkish subject', as Mozart referred to it – was not, of course, new. At the time of its composition, two of Gluck's French opéra comiques – Le Cadi dupé and La Rencontre imprévue – were well remembered and indeed the latter, translated into German, had recently enjoyed a successful revival. As Mozart was aware, the alla turca style used in these scores went down particularly well with local audiences. It derived from the music of so-called janissary bands that accompanied Turkish armies into battle, with kettledrums and cymbals to the fore. Simplified and westernised, it became associated in operatic contexts with Turkish themes or even with the Orient in general. Yehudi Menuhin describes The Abduction from the Seraglio as 'a triumph of love and magnanimity over vindictiveness, covetousness, hate, prejudice and violence', for this warm and colourful Mediterranean drama carries with it a profound and moving moral message, so characteristic of Mozart. |
