Poster of Abduction from the Seraglio by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet put on stage in 2024
Mozart was composing his music at a time where the hype of the times in Europe was ‘Turquerie’ referring to love and curiosity for everything Turkish.
The original name of Abduction from the Seraglio
He produced his opera named Abduction from the Seraglio in 1782 and the story was about the abduction of a European princess and her captivity in and abduction from the Ottoman Palace . In the opera, the palace was in an imaginary city in the Ottoman Dynasty but Istanbulites simply love the opera and it is put on stage time and again in historical locations such as the Topkapı Palace or the garden of the Archeological Museum.
Abduction from the Seraglio in the garden of the Istanbul Archeology Museum
I have had a chance to see the opera in both of these locations and it is quite a magical experience to watch Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio where the background of the stage is historical buildings in Istanbul.
So do yourself a favour and try to watch this 18th century opera that takes its story from the Ottoman Empire in İstanbul!
Let’s lend an ear to the Abduction from the Seraglio in the 1984 Amadeus Movie and allow it to transport us to the light spirited world of Mozart!
An old poster of the opera
