Editing Die Entführung aus dem Serail (section)

==Synopsis==
:Place: the country house of the Pasha (German "Bassa"), in Turkey
:Time: 16th century<ref>{{cite book|author=C. F. Bretzner|author-link=Christoph Friedrich Bretzner|translator=John W. Bloch|title=The Abduction from the Seraglio|type=libretto|date=1962|publisher=[[G. Schirmer]]|location=New York|page=IV|lccn=62044952}}</ref>

===Act 1===
[[File:Costume Study for Osmin in the "Abduction from the Seraglio" by W.A. Mozart MET DP830226.jpg|alt=Standing man in Ottoman outfit and long dark beard|thumb|upright|Costume study for Osmin, ca. 1830–50, by Christof Fries, [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]]]]
After a lively overture Belmonte enters, looking for his betrothed, Konstanze, who, with her English servant, Blonde, has fallen into the hands of pirates and been sold to [[Pasha]] Selim (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Hier soll ich dich denn sehen}}" – "Here surely I must find her").<ref>English titles from ''[http://www.chandos.net/Details06.asp?CNumber=CHAN%203081 The Abduction From the Seraglio]'', [[Chandos Records]] CHAN 3081 (2002)</ref> Osmin, the Pasha's bad-tempered servant, comes to pluck [[Common fig|fig]]s in the garden and contemptuously ignores Belmonte's questions (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Wer ein Liebchen hat gefunden}}" – "You may think, you've found a maiden"). Belmonte tries to obtain news of his servant, Pedrillo, who has been captured with the women and is serving as a servant in the Pasha's palace. Osmin replies with insults and abuse (Duet: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Verwünscht seist du samt deinem Liede!}}" – "The devil take you and your song, sir"). Belmonte leaves in disgust. Pedrillo enters and Osmin rages at him, vowing to get him tortured and killed in many different ways (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Solche hergelaufne Laffen}}" – "These young men who go a-spying"). Osmin leaves and Belmonte enters and happily reunites with Pedrillo. Together, they resolve to rescue Konstanze and Blonde, who is Pedrillo's fiancée (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Konstanze, Konstanze, dich wiederzusehen … O wie ängstlich}}" – "Konstanze, Konstanze, to see thee again … Oh what trembling").

Accompanied by a chorus of [[Janissaries]] ("{{lang|de|italic=no|Singt dem großen Bassa Lieder}}" – "Sing to the mighty Pasha Selim"), Pasha Selim appears with Konstanze, for whose love he strives in vain (Aria of Konstanze: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Ach ich liebte}}" – "How I loved him"). Pedrillo tricks the Pasha into hiring Belmonte as an architect. When Belmonte and Pedrillo try to enter the palace, Osmin bars their way, but they hurry past him anyway (Terzett: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Marsch! Marsch! Marsch! Trollt euch fort!}}" – "March! March! March! Clear off!").

===Act 2===
[[File:Costume Study for Blonde in the "Abduction from the Seraglio" by W.A. Mozart MET DP830229.jpg|alt=Standing woman with long braided hair|thumb|upright|Costume study for Blonde by Fries]]
<!--[[File:John frederick lewis-reception1873.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Illustration of the women's quarters in a [[seraglio]], [[John Frederick Lewis]], 1873]]-->
The Pasha has given Blonde to Osmin, to be his slave; however, she defiantly rebuffs her new master's rough lovemaking attempts (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Durch Zärtlichkeit und Schmeicheln}}" – "With smiles and kind caresses"), threatens to scratch out his eyes, and chases him out of the room (Duet: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Ich gehe, doch rate ich dir}}" – "I'm going, but mark what I say"). Konstanze enters in distress (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Welcher Wechsel herrscht in meiner Seele … Traurigkeit ward mir zum Lose}}" – "Oh what sorrow overwhelms my spirit … Endless grief tortures my spirit"). The Pasha enters, demands Konstanze's love, and threatens to use force, but she resolutely rejects him (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Martern aller Arten}}" – "Tortures unrelenting"). Left alone, he muses on her determination to remain chaste, which increases his desire for her.

Pedrillo informs Blonde that Belmonte has come and is planning to rescue them, filling Blonde with joy (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Welche Wonne, welche Lust}}" – "Oh, the happy, happy day"). After singing a short ditty to boost his courage (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Frisch zum Kampfe}}"<ref> The ''[https://dme.mozarteum.at/DME/nma/scan.php?vsep=56&l=1&p1=-23#p-17 New Mozart Edition]'' points out that there is a fine example of Mozartian characterization at the end of this aria, namely when Pedrillo confuses the previous order of "{{lang|de|italic=no|Kampf}}" and "{{lang|de|italic=no|Streit}}" at the end and shouts "{{lang|de|italic=no|Frisch zum Streite! Frisch zum Kampfe! Frisch zum Streite!}}" This new order was often considered a mistake on Mozart's part and was adapted to the previous order; this intervention in Mozart's score can also be heard on most recordings of this opera. </ref> – "Now Pedrillo, now for battle!"), Pedrillo invites Osmin to drink (Duet: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Vivat [[Dionysus|Bacchus]]! Bacchus lebe!}}" – "Here's to Bacchus, long live Bacchus"). Despite his [[Khamr|religious prohibition against alcoholic beverages]], Osmin drinks heavily and falls asleep. Konstanze joins Belmonte who declares his love (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Wenn der Freude Tränen fließen}}" – "When tears of joy flow"). The two couples reunite (Quartet, Belmonte, Konstanze, Pedrillo, Blonde: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Ach Belmonte! Ach, mein Leben}}" – "Ah, Belmonte, ah my dear one!"). After their initial expressions of love and joy, Belmonte and Pedrillo both question anxiously whether their respective fiancees have remained faithful during their forced separation; to their delight, the women respond with indignation and dismay, and Blonde slaps Pedrillo's face. The two men apologize for their lack of confidence; the women forgive them for their offensive questions.

===Act 3===
Klaas and Pedrillo come to the garden with ladders (Aria, Belmonte: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Ich baue ganz auf deine Stärke}}" – "Love, only love, can now direct me"). Pedrillo attracts the attention of the women by singing a ballad about a rescue similar to the one he is planning (Romanze, Pedrillo: "{{lang|de|italic=no|In Mohrenland gefangen war}}" – "In Moorish lands a maiden fair"). However, Osmin enters, sees the ladders, and rouses the castle. Osmin exults in the prospect of seeing them all hanged (Aria: "{{lang|de|italic=no|[[O, wie will ich triumphieren]]}}" – "My triumphant hour's approaching"). Belmonte pleads for their lives and tells Pasha Selim that his father is a Spanish [[Grandee]] and Governor of [[Oran]], named Lostados, and will pay a generous ransom. Unfortunately, Pasha Selim and Lostados are long-standing enemies. The Pasha rejoices in the opportunity to subject his enemy's son to a horrible death. He leaves Belmonte and Konstanze to bid each other a last farewell; they lovingly assure each other that being tortured to death will be a pleasure, so long as they get tortured to death together (Duet: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Welch ein Geschick! O Qual der Seele.... Weh, du soltest für mich sterben}}" – "What dreadful fate conspires against us.... Woe, you will die because of me"). However, the Pasha then decides that he can make a better point against Lostados by showing mercy and releasing Belmonte and his friends. All are set at liberty – much to the dismay of Osmin (Finale: "{{lang|de|italic=no|Nie werd' ich deine Huld verkennen}}" – "Your noble mercy passes measure").