Die Entführung aus dem Serail

As some of you may know already I am a big opera fan, and Mozart is one of my favourites. Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail is not my favourite of his work, I find Don Giovanni, Die Zauberflote, Le Nozze Di Figaro and Cosi Fan Tutte to have stronger stories, conversely the characters especially Konstanze and Osmin are memorable and the music is wonderful especially Marten Aller Arten and Ha Wie Will Ich Triumphieren.

This production is good, more on a musical front than visually, but I prefer the Glyndebourne productions and the 1980 production with Araiza, Gruberova and Talvela. The costumes are decent as are the sets, but the lighting is occasionally on the dull side and the picture quality rather blurry.

Sound is mostly very good, equipping Dessay particularly well during her Ah Ich Leibte. The orchestra play with style and the conducting has the feel of Mozart and doesn't drag too much.

The singing is very good, while Roberto Sacca is a handsome and agile Belmonte, Francessco Piccoli a good Pedrillo, Christopher Quest an excellent Pasha Selim and Akie Amou a beautifully sung Blonde, my favourites are Natalie Dessay's subdued but altogether touching Konstanze and Kurt Rydl as a funny and intimidating Osmin.

So all in all, mostly good but could've been better. 7/10 Bethany Cox