Opera Hong Kong chose Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail for its annual summer semi-staged production at the Hong Kong City Hall, held 17-18 August 2025. The production, directed by Tang Xinxin and conducted by Michael Koehler, was sung in German with dialogue in English (and a large smattering of Chinese).
Although Kostanze’s aria “Martern aller Arten” is regular concert piece (and sung by Colette Lam and Yanna Chen on alternate nights), Mozart gave the most accessible music to the unlikely pair of comically overbearing overseer and wannabe romantic Osmin and the feisty Blonde, who turns the tables (literally here) on the besotted Turk. Freddie Tong’s comic talents and rich bass-baritone were on full display as Osmin, while Valentina Tao sparkled as Blonde, a role she shared with Vivian Yau.
The role of Belmonte was shared between Chen Yong and Henry Ngan, while Freddie Tsang sang Pedrillo both nights. Lam Kwok Ho took the non-singing role of Pasha Selim.
Tang’s theatre-like production focused more on action and delivery than sets: the sole piece of staging was single, moveable vine- and flower-framed window. The largest prop was a wheelbarrow. The production shared the stage with the Opera Hong Kong Orchestra, in fine form under the direction of Michael Koehler.