This production of a Mozart opera of which I was unaware transferred well and easily to the television. Full of pegs for the singers to display their talents, the plot is extremely simple - The young Spanish noblewoman Konstanze has been abducted by pirates together with her English maid Blonde, and Pedrillo, valet to her betrothed, Belmonte. Landing on the shores of Turkey, they have been sold as slaves to Pasha Selim. Originally a Spanish subject himself, he has become a ‘renegade’, a convert and prospered in Turkey. He has fallen in love with Konstanze. Pedrillo has smuggled letters out to his master and Belmonte has sailed from Spain to try to rescue them. The opera consists of scenes of Selim trying to woo (but never force himself upon) Konstanze while the hate figure, the overseer Osmin tries to bed Blonde, who is Pedrillo's girlfriend. Meanwhile, a rescue is planned with Osmin tricked into drinking spike wine by Pedrillo so that an escape can be effected. This succeeds but then fails and the escapees are thrown back on the mercy of Selim. In a feel good ending he spares them, despite Belmonte letting slip that his father was Selim's arch enemy.
This does not tax the brain, either in following the plot or thinking about it. However, it does definitely make for a relaxing couple of hours and Glyndebourne's production feels rich and lavish.
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