One-third documentary and two-thirds filmed theatre, this fascinating experiment from filmmaker Mick Csaky and opera director Elijah Moshinsky revolves around a staging of Mozart's first popular success, Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Harem). Musical sequences are interwoven with footage of rehearsals and interviews that provide historical context.

The Turkish setting is breathtaking, and the film offers a unique opportunity for Mozart devotees to see one of his works spring from fantasy to reality. The production, performed in the harem of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, features exquisite set design and a top-notch cast including Paul Groves, Yelda Kodalli, Desiree Rancatore, Lynton Atkinson, Peter Rose and actor Oliver Tobias, with Sir Charles Mackerras conducting The Scottish Chamber Orchestra. More than just a performance film, Mozart in Turkey also studies the history of opera's fascination with Turkish culture and some illuminating biographical information about Mozart's life during the composition of ‘The Abduction’, his most popular opera during his lifetime.

Paul Groves, Yelda Kodalli, Desiree Rancatore, Lynton Atkinson, Peter Rose, Oliver Tobias
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra & Choir / Sir Charles Mackerras

Plus


Option to play the ‘music highlights’ independently in Surround Sound
16 Page, full colour illustrated booklet in English, French and German


Reviews
'Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio was his most popular opera during his lifetime. The medium rarely transfers well to the small screen, so rather than a straightforward film of a production performed on location, director Moshinsky gives us highlights shot in and around the spectacular Harem of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. What makes this DVD so engrossing is that the opera is interspersed with a fascinating documentary about the actual filming of Moshinsky’s conception. It works brilliantly. Moshinsky, who provides his own genial commentary for the documentary, talks engagingly about the background to the work, conducts interviews on the historical, social and musical background of Mozart’s work, as well as directing the crew. The cast looks and sounds good… And the final scene, dominated by the non-singing Sultan (sultry Oliver Tobias speaking apparently fluent German), is genuinely moving.
Musically, dramatically and visually it’s a treat, while incidentally providing a vivid beginner’s introduction to the opera.'
Classic fM

'First shown on British TV… this presents an unusual and interesting approach to opera on video, a hybrid documentary-cum-filmed performance. Sir Charles Mackerras’s splendid CD recording provides a lively soundtrack to excerpted scenes staged… by Moshinsky and the original cast among the expanses of Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace. They add up to about an hour’s-worth, interspersed with a documentary about Moshinsky’s views of opera, characters and filming.
How ravishing it all is to look at. Both the documentary and staging glow with local colour – though this is more than window-dressing, conveying the exotic (and erotic) shock which Turkish culture delivered to Mozart’s Europe. More interestingly, the filming vindicates the advantages of video recording, by allowing the singers to flesh out performances that in sound alone often seemed less complete… if Yelda Kodalli, amusingly the only Turk in the cast, sounded rather light and girlish as Konstanze on disc, we can see now that it’s because she is unusually young and vulnerable in her characterisation – and very effectively so, making ‘Marten aller Arten’ more brave than bravura. Désirée Rancatore’s ginger-haired Blonde enhances her crisp singing with a truly fearsome manner, pouring tea with lethal gentility… it’s plenty of fun… and a delight to eye and ear.'
The Gramophone

‘This is a really wonderful treat both for confirmed lovers of opera and for those perhaps not yet totally convinced. The concept of staging Mozart’s first popular opera in the gorgeous environs of the Topkapi Palace, in Istanbul, Turkey. The venue is highly appropriate and the resultant film is hugely enjoyable. With this DVD allowing viewing of the straight opera or with the director’s comments between scenes I recommend the latter unreservedly since it adds greatly to an understanding of Mozart’s aims and ideas. Highly recommended indeed.’
Cityscene

‘Turkish Delight!’
Film & Video Magazine

‘…pure delight’
The Independent

Awards & Accolades:
WINNER - Golden Rembrandt - IBC 2000 Nombre d’Or Festival

Classic fM Best Buy (April 2004)

CAT NO: OA 0892 D
FORMAT: NTSC
REGIONS: All Regions
PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
LENGTH: 88 MINS
SOUND: DOLBY SURROUND / DOLBY STEREO
SUBTITLES: EN/ES
RELEASED: 01/01/2004
NO OF DISCS: 1