Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K384 (Complete opera)

The 1782 premiere in Vienna of 'Die Entführung aus dem Serail' was an unprecedented success. This dazzling triumph was enhanced by a libretto celebrating and counter to contemporary prejudices concerning the Ottoman Empire. Mozart gave an important place to the spoken dialogue, often severely cut, but fully restored and brought to life here by René Jacobs in the culmination of his Mozart opera recordings for harmonia mundi.

"Mari Eriksmoen was an charming and malicious Blonde with a light and elegant soprano well-suited to the fiery English maid. As Konstanze, Robin Johannssen's soprano boasted a middle range with silvery tones. The male side of the cast was just perfect. As Pedrillo, Julian Prégardien allied both appealing singing and jubilatory acting. Maximilian Schmitt's Belmonte impressed by his powerful and manly lyric sound and with aptly executed fioriturain "Ich baue ganz auf deine Stärke"... The strongest performance however came from Dimitry Ivaschenko. The Russian bass, combining splendid deep tone with extreme flexibility, managed to convey the comical side of his character, without reducing it to the buffoonery that often mars other interpretations.

Totally at one with the theatrical approach to the performance, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin followed the maestro's contrasted tempi and played superbly…this performance at the Concertgebouw took place a few days after Mr. Jacobs recorded the work in the studio with the same team of soloists and orchestra. Without the visual support, that recording will be a very different experience but I'd certainly be keen to see if it matches up to my memories." Nicolas Nguyen, 21 September 2014, bachtrack.com