Mozart
Süreyya Opera Sahnesi, Istanbul
There is something special seeing a performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera “The Abduction from the Seraglio” in Istanbul, which is, of course, where the opera is set. However, the venue is not the Topkapi but a gorgeous 1920s theatre. This absolute jewel of a theatre is in the Kadiköy area of the vast city and if you are staying in the more tourist areas of the city involves a great adventure of taking the metro down under the water to Asiatic Istanbul.
Designed and built by the politician Süreyya İlmen Pasha, the theatre was originally established in 1927 as the first musical theatre on the Anatolian part of Istanbul. However, the venue was used as a movie theatre until a restoration and reopening as an opera house by the end of 2007.
The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet production, directed by Caner Akın, is set in what appear an early 20th century Istanbul and is even more modern with funny references to Covid 19 with masks and people sneezing at each other. It is a reference to the influenza epidemic in 1918 that wiped out millions of people.
The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra accompanied the artists under the baton of conductor Seda Subasi Yalcin, with lots of fire and enthusiasm, never swamping the singers but driving the energy, and then surfing the beautiful Mozartian lyricism.
The choreographer is a ballet dancer Tan Sağtürk and the show open with ballet dancers and a young boy who seems to be the Pasha who was also brought into the palace as a slave of sorts. This idea is returned to at the end as it is the boy who, through gesture, persuades the Pasha to release the Christians. It is a simple set design and costumes from Olcay Engin Kaymaz all lit by Taner Aydın.
We had some very fine singing from all the principles. They worked together very well and shone in their solo arias. Fuat Kilic Aslan has great stage presence and a lustrous voice as Belmonte; Tuncay Kurtoglu sang the audience’s favourite Osmin in giving the most enthusiastic and dynamic performance and Onur Turan as Pedrillo really has a strong beautiful voice. The contrast between Anna Sirel Y. Etyemez singing a refined and secure Constanze, contrasted with the flighty Band charming Blonde from Hazal Eksi. Pash Selim was taken by the distinguished-looking Selim Borak.
It was interesting to hear the opera sung in German but with the recitative in either German or in Turkish, depending on who is speaking to whom.
