Jorge Takla signs the new operatic production of Mozart

Director brings ‘The Abduction of the Menagerie’, set in the Ottoman Empire in the original, to present-day Paris

Two young European women are kidnapped and sold to a pasha. And their boyfriends set out to save them, hatching a plan to remove them from the harem where they are kept. The story takes place in the Ottoman Empire, but, starting on Friday the 14th, it takes the stage of the Teatro São Pedro, in a reading that takes the plot to present-day Paris.

The stage direction is Jorge Taclawho returns to São Pedro and to the partnership with the master Claudio Croce – the two were responsible in 2008 for the award-winning production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the play by Benjamin Britten based on the play by Shakespeare.

Born in Lebanon, Takla explains that he was interested in the portrayal the work portrays of Arabs. “As dazzling as the work is, and it is, I am Arab and I wanted to avoid the possibility of falling into caricature, into an Arabized portrait based on ridicule,” he says, explaining that contact with the work has offered him other themes to explore.

According to the director, it seemed more interesting for the montage to address issues such as machismo, harassment and the social configurations that fuel this dynamic. “He has offered me, as a director, much more interesting possibilities than a focus on the imaginary turkey created by Mozart, made up of ridiculous pashas,” he says.

This does not mean, however, that the director has given up on comedy. “The work offers the possibility to debate tougher themes, but this shouldn’t be done by giving up a light and funny storytelling,” he says. “The Abduction is a courageous, fascinating, simple work, with moments of great interest, but never pretentious”.

IN VIENNA. Rapto do Seralho premiered in 1782, a year after Mozart’s arrival in Vienna, where he set off in search of new professional avenues. At that time, the Italian repertoire dominated the theaters and Emperor Joseph II decided to create a troupe dedicated to the presentation of operas in German.

The work has the format of a singspiel, i.e. it alternates spoken dialogues and musical excerpts. “It wouldn’t have made sense to keep the dialogues in German, so they were translated into Portuguese by Irineu Franco Perpétuo,” explains the director.

Takla had the partnership of Ronaldo Zero in directing; the scenography is by Nicolás Boni, the lights by Ney Bonfante and the costumes by Fabio Namatame. The cast includes sopranos Ludmila Bauerfeldt (Konstanze), Raquel Paulin and Ana Carolina Coutinho (Blonde), Daniel Umbelino (Belmonte), Jean William (Pedrilho), Luiz-Ottavio Faria (Osmin) and Fred Silveira (Paxá).

The abduction of Seraglio Teatro São Pedro / Rua Barra Funda, 161. 4 and 6, 8pm. Sun, 5pm. R$ 30/ R$ 100. 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28 and 30 April

Source: Terra

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.