5/5 EXCELLENT TRADITIONAL PRODUCTION
  by Jesse Knight (woburn ma usa)
I was able to borrow the Mehta DVD with Eva Mei as Constanza. Unfortunately that production while traditional, struck me as having a low budget look at times, typical of a high school play. Second, the voices wandered left to right in a meaningless way which is annoying for us headphone listeners.

This production staged by Hampe is beautiful in every way. Ruth Ann Swenson is a great constanza with more personality than Schafer or Mei. Rydl,as Osmin, is much more focussed in pitch here than he is with Mehta. Hartelius is Blonde on both this DVD and the "regietheater" version from Salzburg. She is a versatile singer who makes the most out of both productions, thus giving some insights into how "regietheater" affects how a singer changes their style. The two tenors are fine. There is some distortion in the sound but it is infrequent enough not to be annoying, putting this DVD almost on the same sonic level as the Salzburg and above the newer one with Mehta.

Gelmetti takes a slower pace than Minkowski did in the Salzburg DVD, which gives the singers more time to form each note. This results in a more poetic but less exciting performance than the Salzburg.

If you are not familiar with this opera, The Hampe production with Gelmetti conducting is the best choice of the three. On the otherhand, if you are familiar with the story, and want a very clever updated staging, get the Salzburg with Minkowski conducting. Owning both is a very rewarding experience for anyone who wants to do a serious study of regietheater vs traditon using two excellent DVDs.



5/5 A WONDERFULLY SUNG & STAGED PRODUCTION
  by R. Olsavicky (Butler, Pa. USA)
If you love Mozart here is a beautiful production of this lovely singspiel. All the singers are first class. Two fine tenors. A great Konstanze in Ruth Ann Swenson. An exceptional Blonde in Malin Hartelius. A fun Osmin in Kurt Rydl. Now add to the mix lovely sets, costumes and creative directorial touches like the Olive eating scene with Blonde and Osmin and a truly motivated "Martern aller Arten." Complete the recipe with fine conducting and orchestral execution and you have a fine performance of a great early masterpiece by a teenage genius - Mozart. It is hard to imagine that a teenager could get so much emotion and detail just right as in this delightful score!

You might also want to try the DVD with Edita Gruberova.

5/5 Yet another reason to love Mozart!
  by Mr John Haueisen (WORTHINGTON, OHIO United States)
There are several great productions of Mozart's "The Abduction from the Seraglio"--we are so fortunate to have many from which to choose.

This one has very good singing, with the bonus of wonderful costuming and imaginative staging and scenery which add to the effect.

OK, here are some specifics to support the above praise:

The famous "Traurigkeit" aria is staged among the palm trees and sand under a setting sun's diminishing glow--very effective touch.

The Pasha seizes and kisses Konstanze as he threatens her with torture. She faints and collapses, remaining lifeless until her famous aria, "Marten alle Arten." During this passionate plea, the Pasha collapses in frustration and cultural shock, and hides his face under his robes throughout her spirited exclamation that she will welcome death, which will set her free. (Her sustained notes toward the end of the aria should make you fall on your knees at the genius of Mozart!)

It seemed to me a nice touch that Osmin (Kurt Rydl) snaps his fingers when he wants Blonde (Malin Hartelius) to feed him another olive. He does this from a relaxed position, lying in a sort of hammock, from which Blonde finally dumps him, trying to teach him that you win love through tenderness and coaxing, rather than by barking orders.

Pedrillo (Manfred Fink) and Osmin (Kurt Rydl) dance to the spirited "Viva Bacchus," and Osmin gathers some laughter from the audience when he holds to his chest the two wine jugs, as he speaks of his beloved Blonde.

This is a very fun production that should remind you of why so many dearly love Mozart.

5/5 An excellent performance
  by A. BOSS (Mountainside, NJ United States)
First, I should say that Abduction is not one of my favorite operas. Is spite of this, I very much enjoyed this performance.

The singing and acting are excellent. Although, as another reviewer commented, the conducting is a little slower than many productions of this opera, I think the slower pace improves the opera. Scenery and staging are traditional and very good.