Die Entführung aus dem Serail

Act One

Somewhere on the Turkish Mediterranean coast, the Spaniard Belmonte arrives at the seraglio of Bassa Selim. He wants to free his fiancée Konstanze, who is being held captive at the countryside home of this Ottoman pasha. The overseer Osmin, who fears nothing more than the women being stolen by others, refuses him entrance.

Belmonte meets his servant Pedrillo who informs him of the situation. Together with Konstanze and her maid, the Englishwoman Blonde, Pedrillo has also been taken prisoner. Bassa Selim, a Spaniard who moved from Christian Europe to Turkey and converted to Islam, tried to seduce Konstanze, according to Pedrillo. In addition, he has given Blonde, who is betrothed to Pedrillo, to Osmin. Pedrillo himself has been forced to work as a gardener in the service of Bassa Selim. Belmonte reports that he has hidden an escape boat and plans with Pedrillo to free the prisoners from the seraglio. At the same time, he worries about Konstanze’s fidelity.

Selim, accompanied by his bodyguard, arrives with Konstanze on a pleasure boat. She rejects Selim once more; he gives her another day to think about it. Pedrillo introduces Belmonte to Selim as an architect, and he is also taken into service.

When Osmin still refuses to allow Belmonte and Pedrillo to enter the seraglio, they break in.

Act Two

Blonde rejects Osmin’s claims on her. She insists on her independence, while he inists that he owns her. In the conflict, Osmin comes up short.

Konstanze mourns her fate and the violent separation from her beloved Belmonte. Selim begins a new extortionary attempt at seduction. But his threats are in vain, since Konstanze fears neither violence nor death.

Pedrillo informs Blonde about Belmonte’s arrival and the planned escape. Both are full of joyful anticipation. Osmin is made drunk, in addition, he is given a sleeping potion.

Before the planned escape at midnight, Konstanze, Belomonte, Blonde, and Pedrillo meet secretly in the seraglio. They all look forward to the imminent end of their separation and coming freedom. But when the men question the women’s fidelity, they are indignant. When the men plead for forgiveness, the women pardon them and the four sing in praise of love.

Act Three

In the night, Belmonte and Pedrillo try to abscond with the women, but Osmin wakes up earlier than planned and thwarts their attempt. Selim confronts the captured prisoners. It turns out that Belmonte is the son of Selim’s archenemy, whose intrigues once ruined him and forced him to leave Spain. Konstanze and Belmonte are ready to die together. When Selim realizes that he can do nothing against their love, he relinquishes Konstanze and refrains from any punishment for their attempt at escape. Instead of carrying out revenge, he frees the prisoners. All praise Bassa Selim, only Osmin remains unforgiving.