DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL – MOZART
Presented on Apr 26, 28, 30 at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin as part of the Dublin Grand Opera Society’s Spring Season
Margaret Ritchie – Konstanze
Richard Lewis – Belmonte
Ingrid Hageman – Blonde
Owen Brannigan – Osmin
John Kentish – Pedrillo
Joseph O’Dea – Selim
Lt-Col J M Doyle – Conductor
Vere Laurie – Producer
Despite its novelty, it was slow to attract operagoers and the production did not entirely please the critics. This was surprising for with its Turkish setting and hilarious plot involving some highly amusing characters, none more so than the roguish, ill-tempered Osmin, Mozart’s opera usually provided lively entertainment. It was premiered in Vienna in 1782 and was considered a huge success, both artistically and commercially, and thereafter was presented successfully in the main German cities during the composer’s lifetime. Irish Press critic Robert Johnston was one of the few who regarded the DGOS production as memorable, partly because of its effective settings and costumes, but most of all for Owen Brannigan’s brilliant portrayal of Osmin. He had also praise for sopranos Margaret Ritchie and Ingrid Hageman in the roles of Constance and Blonde. And there were pleasing performances by the English tenors Richard Lewis and John Kentish as Belmonte and Pedrillo. In Johnston’s view, the society showed courage in staging the work and hoped that in time it would present all the Mozart operas.
(Extracted from “Love and Music: The Glorious History of the Dublin Grand Opera Society” by Gus Smith, 1998)
Opera in Ireland 