So, music existed in 1782? I wasn’t there, but I believe so!

I’m well aware that “Heretic Pride” could be purchased if one were to hop over to Amazon, and I’ll get around to it. At the moment I’m on NPR listening to Mozart’s opera “The Abduction From the Seraglio.” When I was a lassie I attended quite a few operas at the Bayrische Staatsoper, but I never appreciated them like I would now, when I have no opportunity to attend one. NPR is a great repository of … well, everything, but opera too, so see if there’s anything you like.

The Abduction is mostly the story of Belmonte, a Spanish nobleman who comes to the Pasha’s seraglio* to rescue his captured lady-love. I bet on the stage it’s totally opulent and full of gold hangings and veils and whatnot. The theme was very popular with Mozart’s audience, who were fascinated with all things Turkish / Oriental; the opera was received well enough for Mozart’s father to remark, “Even the Archbishop was gracious enough to say: ‘Really it wasn’t at all bad.’” [the Mozart Project]. Damned with faint praise! But 200+ years, here we are.

I don’t own anything from this particular opera, but here’s one from my favorite crazy Masonic opera, The Magic Flute: “Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja” (english: Yes, I’m a birdcatcher). Coincidentally, the ladies over at Speed of Dark also posted about Mozart yesterday, so if you want a couple non-operatic pieces, head on over.

*the seraglio would be the place where the Pasha stored all his women; i.e., his harem. Back in the day if a Pasha liked a girl’s looks he’d just snag her by force and take her back to the seraglio, which she could basically never leave, since it was heavily guarded. She’d remain there as a slave or concubine, depending on the Pasha’s whim. This became the stuff of many romance novels (and apparently operas too).