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 Entführung 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.