Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail

(The Abduction from the Seraglio)

Engraving of a 19th-century London production of Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail.

Characters *Belmonte, a Spanish nobleman (tenor) *Pedrillo, his servant (tenor) *Constanze, a Spanish lady, Belmonte's betrothed (soprano) *Blonde, her English maid (soprano) *Pasha Selim (speaking role) *Osmin, overseer of the Pasha's estate (bass) *Klaas, a sailor (speaking role)

Synopsis

The setting is the Pasha Selim's palace, somewhere by the sea.

Act I

Belmonte has come by ship to rescue his lover, Constanze, who has been captured along with Blonde and Pedrillo by the Pasha Selim. But now that he has arrived at the palace gate, he is at a loss as to what to do next. Osmin enters with a ladder, which he leans against a tree. He climbs the ladder and begins to pick figs, pointedly ignoring Belmonte's repeated inquiries. Finally, he answers: Yes this is the Pasha's house. The conversation continues, haltingly, until Belmonte mentions Pedrillo's name. This is a mistake: Apparently Osmin has a serious grudge against Pedrillo. Osmin angrily threatens Belmonte, who becomes frustrated and leaves. Pedrillo then enters to face the enraged Osmin, who exits, but not before describing what should be done to Pedrillo and his ilk: "First beheaded, then hanged, the impaled on red-hot spikes, the burned, then bound and drowned, finally flayed." Belmonte returns to find Pedrillo, who assures him that Constanze is quite safe. But escape won't be a simple matter, he says: They must find some way to fool "the old watchdog," Osmin. Pedrillo has a plan: He will introduce Belmonte as an architect in order to win him admittance to the palace. The Pasha and Constanze arrive by boat and are enthusiastically greeted by a chorus of Janissaries. The Pasha, apparently continuing a discussion that has been going on for some time, privately implores her to give him her heart of her own free will. But she refuses. He insists; she asks for more time and sadly departs. Pedrillo interrupts the Pasha's thoughts to introduce Belmonte, the "architect." Over the opposition of Osmin, Belmonte and Pedrillo enter the palace.

Act II

Osmin and Blonde argue in the palace garden. Osmin claims that she is his property and orders her into his house. Blonde refuses, proudly asserting that she is an Englishwoman and thus nobody's slave. He fumes, but she returns his bluster in equal measure and, with a threat to scratch out his eyes, frightens him away. Constanze enters, lamenting her sad situation. Will Belmonte ever come? Blonde assures her that rescue is certain, but quietly leaves when she sees the Pasha approaching. He has come to continue his entreaties; his patience is exhausted. Constanze must change her mind by the next day, he says, or face tortures of every kind. Bravely (and at some length), she refuses, then departs. Stunned by her sudden courage, the Pasha decides to achieve by guile what he cannot by force. He too departs, apparently to work on his plan.

Pedrillo and Blonde surreptitiously enter for a brief tryst. Blonde is ecstatic to hear of Belmonte's arrival and their impending escape. But she is also worried: What about Osmin? No problem, Pedrillo says. He produces a sleeping-draught that he will mix in a bottle of wine for "the old fox." She happily leaves to tell Constanze. Pedrillo steadies himself for the approaching "battle." Osmin returns, suspicious of Pedrillo's good mood. Pedrillo attributes it to the wine, which he immediately produces and offers to share with Osmin. Reluctantly, Osmin gives in. Soon he's taking deep swigs from the larger bottle. He falls asleep and Pedrillo awkwardly drags him into his house. Belmonte, Constanze and Blonde enter and everyone is happily reunited. But after the initial embrace, suspicion rears its ugly head. Belmonte and Pedrillo both question their lovers' faithfulness. Constanze is wounded that Belmonte would ever think such a thing; Blonde boxes Pedrillo for the same reason. Quickly, the men beg forgiveness. It's forthcoming almost as quickly, and everyone departs to prepare for the great escape.

Act III

It's the middle of the night. Pedrillo and Belmonte meet in front of the palace. Pedrillo reports that the coast is clear, but insists that the rescue can't take place until he gives the signal. He produces a mandolin; the signal is a serenade that he sings beneath the women's windows. Appropriately enough, the song is about a "lovely maid," taken captive in a Moorish land. The first two verses produce no result, so he sings two more. Constanze and Blonde appear at their windows; the men grab the ladders and commence the rescue. Everything is going fine until, unfortunately, Osmin wakes up and sounds the alarm. All four escapees are quickly rounded up and ordered into the Pasha's apartments, where Osmin describes the attempted rescue to his master. Constanze begs the Pasha's forgiveness, but Belmonte takes a more practical route. He identifies himself as a Spanish nobleman whose family would pay a handsome ransom for himself and Constanze. But he makes a fatal mistake: "My name is Lostados," he says. Belmonte's admission provokes an unexpected and unfortunate response. Years ago, the Pasha says, Belmonte's father had robbed him of everything: his honor, his property and his happiness. Now, that man's son is in his power. "In my place what would he do?" the Pasha asks, rather rhetorically. Belmonte answers: "My fate would be pitiable." The Pasha and Osmin retire to discuss the best method of torture and death for the foreigners. In their absence, Belmonte and Constanze reaffirm their love and eagerly look forward to dying in each other's arms. The Pasha returns with his decision. Because he is not like Belmonte's father-- whom he describes as a "barbarian" -- he has decided to set his prisoners free. "It is a far greater pleasure to repay an injustice with a favour than an evil with an evil," he says. Osmin is shocked and disappointed over losing Blonde, his "property." He repeats his litany of terrible tortures from Act I and angrily exits as Belmonte, Constanze, Pedrillo and Blonde sing the praises of human kindness. The Janissaries return for a final chorus in honor of the Pasha: "Bassa Selim lebe lange, Ehre sei sein Eigentum!" "Long live the Pasha Selim! Let honor be his due!"