Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Live)

From bar one, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin runs a tight ship in this intoxicating performance of Mozart’s Turkish-inspired Singspiel, complete with boisterous imitations of Turkish Janissary music. For the journey to rescue Konstanze from Pasha Selim’s harem, Mozart provides some of his most memorable music, including the drunken duet “Vivat Bacchus! Bacchus lebe!” (Paul Schweinester and Franz-Josef Selig in hilarious form) and one of the composer’s most affectionate arias, “Wenn der Freude Tränen fließen,” shaped gorgeously by tenor Rolando Villazón. For a master class in pure vocal poise and skill, however, simply head straight for Diana Damrau’s astonishing “Martern aller Arten,” a 10-minute concerto for voice and orchestra in all but name.