Ξεχωριστή θέση [όχι μόνο] για μένα ανάμεσα στα έργα του Mozart κατέχει η ανεξάντλητη πηγή μελωδικής ευφορίας που αποτελεί ’Η Απαγωγή Απ’ το Σεράι’, όπερα που συνέθεσε σε ηλικία 25 ετών. Το έργο ακολουθεί τη φόρμα του Singspiel [γερμανικού “ελαφρού” μουσικού δράματος, με παρένθετους διαλόγους] την οποία ο συνθέτης αναβαθμίζει σε επίπεδο “υψηλής τέχνης” – θα μεγαλουργούσε για μια ακόμα φορά στην ίδια φόρμα με τον Μαγεμένο Αυλό.
Ακούμε αποσπάσματα, επιλεγμένα από δύο αναγνώσεις της όπερας : του Charles Mackerras με την Scottish Chamber Orchestra & Chorus [tracks 1,2] και του Karl Bohm [tracks 3,4] με την Staatskapelle της Δρέσδης.
Πρωταγωνιστές των αριών : ο Ισπανός ευγενής Belmonte, η αγαπημένη του Constanze, σκλάβα στο Σεράι του Πασά την οποία θέλει να απαγάγει, και ο φρουρός Osmin.

A special place [not only] for me among Mozart’s works belongs to the endless source of melodic euphoria that is ‘The Abduction from the Seraglio’, an opera he composed at the age of 25. The work follows the form of Singspiel [German “light” musical drama, with interstitial dialogues] which the composer upgrades to the level of “high art” – he would once again achieve greatness in the same form with The Magic Flute.
We listen to excerpts selected from two renditions of the opera: Charles Mackerras’ with Scottish Chamber Orchestra & Chorus [tracks 1, 2] and Karl Bohm’s with Staatskapelle Dresden [3,4].
The arias’ protagonists: the Spanish nobleman Belmonte, his beloved Constanze, a slave in the Pasha’s Seraglio whom he wants to kidnap, and the guard Osmin.

00:00 Act 1 BELMONTE : Hier Soll Ich Dich Denn Sehen – Paul Groves, tenor
02:41 Act 1 OSMIN : Solche Hergelaufne Laffen – Peter Rose, bass
07:41 Act 2 CONSTANZE : Welcher Kummer herrscht in meiner Seele – Arleen Auger, soprano
16:38 Act 2 CONSTANZE : Martern aller Arten – Arleen Auger, soprano

Here then shall I see you,
Constanze, my joy!
Heaven, let it come to pass :
Restore my peace!
(O love, I have suffer
all too many sorrows.)
Now grant me joys in their stead
and bring me to my goal.

These profligate puppies
who do nothing but ogle women,
I’d rather have the devil;
for all they ever do
is watch us at our work;
but a face like that doesn’t deceive me.
Your tricks, your wiles,
your schemes, your guiles,
all are known to me.
You’ll have to get up early
to get the better of me;
for I know what’s what.
Yes, by the beard of the Prophet!
I’ll not rest, day or night,
till I find a good way to do away with you,
watch out how you may.
First beheaded, then hanged,
then impaled on red-hot spikes,
then burned, then bound
and drowned, finally flayed.

Oh, what changes have been wrought in my heart
Since that day when fate parted us!
Oh Belmonte! The joys have departed
Which I knew when by your side;
The pains of anxious longing
Now inhabit my oppressed heart!
 Unhappiness has become my lot
Because I have been torn from you.
Like the rose, eaten by worms,
Like the grass that withers in winter
My wretched life is fading away.
 Not even to the air may I confide
The bitter anguish of my soul,
Because, unwilling to endure it,
She breathes all my lamentations
Back into my poor heart.

Tortures of every kind
may await me;
I scorn torment and pain.
Nothing will shake my resolve;
I would tremble only
if I were untrue to him.
Be moved to pity, spare me!
The heaven’s blessing shall reward you!
But you are determined.
Willingly, unflinchingly
I accept every pain and grief.
Then order, command,
bluster, roar and rage!
Death will liberate me in the end.