Mozart - Die Entführung aus dem Serail on Blu-ray

[Frumaster]

I have only got one opera on Blu-ray and it is Die Zauberflote on the Opus Arte label.  I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to see what other Mozart operas they had.  They just now released Don Giovanni, which I will have to order, but I also found this opera: Die Entführung aus dem Serail.  It is available at a local store and I'm thinking about grabbing it to watch tonight.  Does anyone know about this blu-ray?  Is the opera a perticularly good one?  Thanks


http://www.opusarte.com/pages/product.asp?ProductID=268

[Frumaster]

Ok guys, you can still comment.  I haven't bought it yet. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Ok guys, you can still comment.  I haven't bought it yet. 

Well, the opera IS a particularly good one, which is all I can answer of your question, not having seen that particular version. It was Mozart's first operatic effort after moving to Vienna, and was a big hit at the time, and has been ever since. I have always enjoyed it, good story, very good music.



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Listening to:
Boccherini: Quartets - Consortium Classicum - Quartet for clarinet, flute, horn & bassoon in C major, G. 262/1 (arranged by Othon Van den Broek): No. 3, Presto assai

[Brünnhilde forever]

Sorry, I can't help you much either, except I can recommend Kurt Rydl as a very impressive bass-baritone. He is Wotan in the now-called Copenhagen Ring. 

[Wendell_E]

Sorry, I can't help you much either, except I can recommend Kurt Rydl as a very impressive bass-baritone. He is Wotan in the now-called Copenhagen Ring. 

  Rydl sings the "deep bass" roles, like Fafner, Hunding, and Hagen, not (AFAIK) Wotan.  John Reuter and James Johnson sing Wotan in the Copenhagen Ring.  Rydl isn't in the Copenhagen one at all, though he does do a couple of those deep bass roles in Audi's Netherlands production.  Of course, a deep bass, rather than a bass-baritone, is what you really need for Osmin in Entführung in any case.

I've seen Aiken in DVDs in a couple of high-lying coloratura 20th century roles (the title role in the Zürich Lulu and Manon Lescaut in Henze's Boulevard Solitude from Barcelona), and she was very impressive.  I imagine she could be a fine Constanze.

Is the opera a perticularly good one? 

Yes, yes, yes!!!

[Sorin Eushayson]

Is the opera a perticularly good one?

Oh heck yes. 

[Brünnhilde forever]

Wendell, I am sure glad you set that one straight! When I typed it - in a hurry! - I should have followed my instinct, get off my duff and get out the DVD of the Netherlands Ring with Rydl in the cast. But, as you all noticed, I did not. 

You taught me to never again rely on my senior memory, thank you! 

[Frumaster]

Well, I think I'll give it a try.  Probably won't be able to watch it until next week, but I figure if its a good opera (as you all say it is)...at worst this production should be enjoyable.  I'll let you all know what I think a bit later.

[Anne]

Isn't this opera you're interested in the one that is discussed and debated in the movie, Amadeus?