The Abduction from the Seraglio by Mozart, pen 23 spa 2020, Nuo (2020/2021), Režisierius Nikolaus Habjan, Dirigentas Motonori Kobayashi, Sebastian Engel, Opernhaus Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

Nikolaus Habjan is a theater magician - whether as a director, puppeteer or artistic whistler, he enchants his audience. It is therefore easy for him to make a virtue out of the necessity of the Corona-related conditions and to present a small opera jewel with his debut as Dortmund resident director: In a version specially designed for this purpose, he brings Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's popular Singspiel Die Abduction from the Seragliowith his lovingly designed puppets on the stage of the opera house. However, anyone who thinks of classic marionette theater is wrong - Habjan's characters are extremely human: complex, full of character, highly artificial and each one is unique. Under his skilful guidance they seem to come to life and take their audience deep into the exotic world of Bassa Selim's seraglio. Together with the singers of the opera ensemble, they tell the adventurous story of the beautiful Konstanze's attempt to free herself: the proud Spaniard, her maid Blonde and her friend Pedrillo fell victim to a pirate attack during a sea voyage. They were sold on a slave market and thus fell into the clutches of Bassa Selim. He seems to be running a strict regime in his palace, in which women's autonomy has been abolished. Will Konstanze's fiancé Belmonte be able to save the unfortunate?