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Mozart - The Abduction from the Seraglio / Mehta, Mei, Ciofi, Trost, Rydl, Montazeri, John, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence

Mozart - The Abduction from the Seraglio / Mehta, Mei, Ciofi, Trost, Rydl, Montazeri, John, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Florence

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Truly adorable
Review: Everything about this performance is adorable and enjoyable Eva Mei and Rainer Trost do a wonderful job with Belmonte and Constanza. The drama is really there for them. The actor who portrays the Pasha Selim is also wonderful. The Pedrillo, Blondchen, and Osmin are equally wonderful. Drama and comedy are equally represented here in a very colorful and lively production. Buy it, it's very enjoyable.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Un 'Rapto' para disfrutar.
Review: Llega en dvd una gran version del 'Rapto en el Serrallo' mozartiano, con un buen reparto encabezado por la soprano italiana EVA MEI, una gran Konstanze en lo vocal, segurisima ante todas sus dificilisimas coloraturas, agudos e intervalos agudo-grave, grave-agudo. Brava!. El tenor RAINER TROST es un Belmonte con la voz algo metálica, aunque mantiene un nivel medio aceptable. Como Osmin, el bajo KURT RYDL hace una soberbia creacion vocal y una divertida creacion escenica. Vocalmente intachable tambien la Blonde de PATRIZIA CIOFFI, de bellisima voz y potentes agudos. El tenor que da vida a Pedrillo cumple, sin mas.
La produccion escenica, del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, es muy bella visualmente, con notables decorados y vestuario, y detalles de muy buen gusto (la llegada del barco, el cocodrilo...)
ZUBIN METHA dirige a la orquesta con suma correccion, lo que termina de cuajar una version muy recomendable de la gran opera mozartiana.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: First rate
Review: Only Mozart would turn a play about slavery, abduction and torture into a cheerful romp. From the minute you see the stuffed alligator you realize all will turn out well. This is Mozart at his most cheerful and up beat. Well sung and acted, Kurt Rydl and Patrizia Ciofi are particularly fine as Osman and Blonde. Rydl looks a bit like one of the Three Stooges, has the comic timing of W.C. Fields and has a spectacular bass voice.

The sets are elegant, clever and appropriate and the production doesn't take itself too seriously. it may not be one of the great operas, but second tier Mozart is better than most composers magnum opus. Very enjoyable.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: colorful stage and impressive singers..
Review: This is an inspiring and joyful performance. All stage and singers and exotic cusmtumes are fantastic. Especially, Eva Mei (Kostanze) and Rainer Trost (Belmonte, what a good looking!) have very beautiful voice. The orchestal playing is also top notch class.
Bravo !

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful
Review: This opera is a delight from start to finish. In particular, Kurt Rydl does a spectacular job as Osmin. I own two versions of The Magic Flute and two of The Marriage of Figaro. I won't be buying any other version of this opera; this is THE one. Sound quality, set design, and direction are great. My only qualm: I wish the original German were available as a subtitle option.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Disappointing when compared...
Review: Viewing this dvd was my first exposure to the work, including the music. After hearing how the music could sound when sung by better singers, I found myself unable to view this dvd. Rydl's singing, with its massively fluttering vibrato, is highly distracting and , based on Mozart's apparent disfavor of heavy vibrato in both instrumental and vocal sources, is not meant to be the way Osmin's voice was to be heard. Since there is a distinctly limited choice of dvds of this singspiel, I suppose this dvd must suffice for those who want to SEE Abduction, but for those who truly want to HEAR Mozart's fine music, I suggest the DG cds with Bohm, a very fine Blonde in Auger, and, most importantly an outstanding Osmin in Kurt Moll.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "You'll Fall In Love with Osmin and Blonde"
Review: You will likely enjoy every aspect of this production of Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio (sung in German, with English, French, Spanish, and Italian subtitles, Zubin Mehta conducting the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. The subtitles are out of the way, and easy to read against a black background.)

As seems so often the case, scenes are stolen by the exceptional Blonde and Osmin (Patrizia Ciofi and Kurt Rydl) with their imaginative acting and sense of humor, balanced by remarkable singing. I cannot imagine that Mozart would not be delighted at their portrayal.

The stage sets and costumes are classic, bright, colorful, and a real treat for the eyes. Watch Blonde, with Osmin or Pedrillo, or Osmin's "Vivat Bacchus" dance. Never have Mozart's happy melodies found a more ideal incarnation!

You'll absolutely fall in love with the entire cast, the production people, and Zubin Mehta, who all put together such a lovely piece. You'll find you can't watch it just once--you'll come back for more. It's delightful!


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