The Abduction from the Seraglio K. 384

The Abduction from the Seraglio K. 384 – BĂ€renreiter-Verlag – Biblioteka JagielloƄska (Cracow, Poland) / Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Berlin, Germany)

Vienna (Austria) — 1781–1782

An original score over 200 years old in fantastic condition: Mozart's unauthorized but brilliant adaptation of Bretzner's best-known work and one of the celebrated composer's greatest triumphs

  1. The hero Belmonte rescues his beloved Konstanze from a harem in a story by Christoph Friedrich Bretzner (1748–1807)

  2. It was brilliantly adapted into an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791), despite not having Bretzner’s permission

  3. The original manuscript of the opera, which premiered on July 16th, 1782 in Vienna, has survived in excellent condition

The Abduction from the Seraglio K. 384

  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
The Abduction from the Seraglio K. 384

This famous opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a highly profitable success but one that created controversy. His opera was based on a story by Christoph Friedrich Bretzner, but Bretzner never gave Mozart permission to adapt his work, and made his displeasure with Mozart well-known. Nonetheless, success speaks for itself: Mozart hardly needed two months for his adaptation, which became one of his greatest triumphs.

The Abduction from the Seraglio K. 384

Mozart’s seven great operas, his brilliant contribution to musical theater and world culture, are unequalled in their depth of human characterization and musical expression. Here we have the original score of one of the seven great operas by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791): Die EntfĂŒhrung aus dem Serail. The German libretto was written by Gottlieb Stephanie (1741–1800) and is an adaptation of a work with the same name by Christoph Friedrich Bretzner (1748–1807). Bretzner was not consulted, nor was his permission given to adapt his original work, and subsequently complained loudly and publically about the theft. Nonetheless, once the text was given over to Mozart’s genius, the opera was composed in only two months. In the story, the hero Belmonte is assisted by his servant Pedrillo in the rescue of his beloved Konstanze from the seraglio or harem of Pasha Selim. Mozart’s opera premiered on July 16th, 1782 in Vienna and was personally conducted by Mozart himself. The work was a huge success and financial windfall for the perpetually impoverished Mozart. Thankfully, the original manuscript has survived in excellent condition.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Entführung aus dem Serail
Origin
Austria
Date
1781–1782
Genre

Available facsimile editions:
The Abduction from the Seraglio K. 384 – BĂ€renreiter-Verlag – Biblioteka JagielloƄska (Cracow, Poland) / Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Berlin, Germany)
BĂ€renreiter-Verlag – Kassel, 2006
Facsimile Editions

#1 The Abduction from the Seraglio K. 384

BĂ€renreiter-Verlag – Kassel, 2006

Publisher: BĂ€renreiter-Verlag – Kassel, 2006
Commentary: 1 volume by Dietrich Berke, Ulrich Konrad, and David Packard
1 volume: This facsimile is not complete. Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The pages are presented on a larger white background. The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)
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