Recorded live at Het Musiektheater, Amsterdam on 2nd, 7th & 19th February 2008.

Laura Aikin, Edgaras Montvidas, Kurt Rydl, Mojca Erdmann, Michael Smallwood & Steven Van Watermeulen

The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra & Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera, Constantinos Carydis (musical director) & Johan Simons (stage director)

Johan Simons’ feisty production of Die Entführung aus dem Serail is an intelligently innovative account of Mozart’s 1782 comic tale of abduction, love, loyalty and forgiveness. Kurt Rydl’s Osmin is hilarious, with just the right edge of latent thuggery; Mojca Erdmann’s smart and cheeky Blonde sports a red riding coat, high latex boots and a belt that she is not afraid to use on the men; Michael Smallwood makes a charming, suave and mocking Pedrillo. Laura Aikin’s Konstanze, torn between true love and obligation, reveals a vast range of human emotions and Edgaras Montvidas’ Belmonte portrays his coming-of-age with clarity and genuine charisma. The performance is whipped up to a feverish pitch in the pit by Constantinos Carydis, the orchestra and chorus responding with fleet virtuosity. Bluntly ‘theatre about theatre’, this ground-breaking performance delivers everything one could wish for from a Mozart opera, combining thrilling energy with a profound sense of lyrical beauty and truth.

Bonus material/features:

Illustrated synopsis & cast gallery.

Interviews with the cast.

Behind the scenes documentary.

“Athenian wonder boy Constantinos Carydis has everything you could want from a Mozart conductor, combining manic energy with perfectionism and a profound sense of lyrical beauty.” Bloomberg News