Die Entfuhrung aus de Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Royal Opera, Covent Garden, London September 17, 1988 (opening night) This was our first visit to Covent Garden: our seats in the front of the highest gallery were small, tight and HOT. The conditions altogether overshadowed the performance, which wasn't that compelling anyhow. This was my first experience with supratitles (the show was sung in German) and that helped follow the story, but the story was nothing much to follow. I was surprised how little like symphonic Mozart the music was all in all; I had expected moving, rapturous music, and heard none. Jane Glover was making her Covent Garden debut conducting, and the orchestra was the highlight of the performance for me. The cast included Mariella Devia, Robert Lloyd, Oliver Tobias, Deon van der Walt, Lillian Watson and Lars Magnusson. I thought Blonde and her boyfriend were the best performers - animated, energetic and capable singers. It is easy to see why the sopranos love Mozart, though, because he seemed enamored of them. At least in this opera (as in the Magic Flute) he seemed to have reserved all the musical fireworks for soprano.