THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO

SAINT PETERSBURG OPERA IN BELGRADE AGAIN

November 13 -14, 2020, B. Britten’s opera The Rape of Lucretia, National Theatre

November 15-16, 2020, W. A. Mozart’s opera The Abduction from the Seraglio, Madlenianum

One of the best musical theatres in Russia and beyond its borders, Saint Petersburg State Chamber Music Theatre "Opera of Saint Petersburg" is again on tour in Serbia. After the announced and then postponed tour in May this year, the organizers found a new date for this  splendid opera event to take place in the middle of pandemic, because there are no obstacles for performing art. The founder and permanent artistic director of the theatre, Russian national artist Yuri Alexandrov, known for his creative experiments and unexpected directorial solutions, has chosen two titles for this tour: The Rape of Lucretia of Benjamin Britten, to perform on November 13 and 14 at the National Theatre in Belgrade and The Abduction from the Seraglio of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, to perform on November 15 and 16 at the Opera & Theatre Madlenianum.

The lyrical comedy in two acts, The Abduction from the Seraglio, is the first national opera written in the singspiel style and is still considered the oldest opera in German language. The genre of singspiel, that is, merry performances in tone, was widespread in Germany and Austria at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century. A plot is accompanied by dialogues, and arias reveal the feelings of the heroes. The melodies of Austrian and German folk songs are accompanied by quick dialogues, expressive and intonation-rich recitatives.

Mozart composed this opera at the time of his marriage to Constanze Weber. The composer's father was against that marriage ... The situation was resolved in an instant: Mozart abducted Constance from her parents' house. He married her three weeks after the opera premiere. It was the happiest period of Mozart's life, which reflected in his music as well. In addition, the main heroine of the opera is called the same as the composer's future wife.

This fairy tale story takes place in Turkey. The plot concerns the attempt of the hero Belmonte, assisted by his servant Pedrillo, to rescue his beloved Constanze from the seraglio of Pasha Selim. In musical circles, there is an anecdote related to this opera in which the emperor Joseph II, who actually ordered this opera, approached Mozart after the performance with a complaint that the music was too fine for his ears, remarking that there were too many notes to which Mozart replied that there were just as many notes as there should be.

"Divine Mozart, with the power of his ingenuity and passion, set sail on the high seas of the future masterpiece The Abduction from the Seraglio." "It will be his best opera. Oh, Constanze! Beloved wife! The main heroine of the future performance bears your name. Eventually that will happen too - music will no longer separate him from his family. On the contrary, it will connect hearts in love, it will break down the barriers between life and the stage!"

"In the complex performance labyrinth, spectators will see an attractive and cheerful story about the adventures of a young couple in love in the fairy-tale and unpredictable Turkey of the 18th century, but also a lyrical story about the complex relationship between Mozart and his wife Constanze, the fate of the genius creator and his wife, who by chance became the opera performance participants", says Yuri Alexandrov, the director of the play.

Ticket can be purchased at the box offices of the Opera & Theatre Madlenianum and the Zepter Museum, as well as online for the following prices: 1.800 RSD, 2.000 RSD and 2.200 RSD.