The alpha and omega of Mozart! With Die Entführung aus dem Serail (1782), probably his first absolute masterpiece, and Die Zauberflöte (1791 – the year of his death), René Jacobs penetrates to the heart of Mozartian singspiel. Featuring singers, a chorus and an orchestra ideally suited to the works, these two complete recordings are now among the benchmarks of the discography.

Casts:

Die Entführung aus dem Serail

- Blondchen: Mari Eriksmoen (soprano)

- Konstanze: Robin Johannsen (soprano)

- Belmonte: Maximilian Schmitt (tenor)

- Pedrillo: Julian Prégardien (tenor)

- Osmin: Dimitry Ivashchenko (bass)

- Bassa Selim: Cornelius Obonya (spoken role)

Die Zauberflöte

- Tamino: Daniel Behle (tenor)

- Pamina: Marlis Petersen (soprano)

- Papageno: Daniel Schmutzhard (baritone)

- Papagena: Sunhae Im (soprano)

- Königin der Nacht: Anna-Kristiina Kaappola (soprano)

- Sarastro: Marcos Fink (bass-baritone)

- Monostatos: Kurt Azesberger (tenor)

- 1st Lady: Inga Kalna (soprano)

- 2nd Lady: Anna Grevelius (mezzo-soprano)

- 3rd Lady: Isabelle Druet (mezzo-soprano)

- Speaker: Konstantin Wolff (bass-baritone)

- 2 Priests: Joachim Buhrmann, Konstantin Wolff

- 2 Armed Men: Magnus Staveland, Konstantin Wolff

- 3 Boys: Alois Mühlbacher, Christoph Schlögl, Philipp Pötzlberger (Sankt-Florianer Sängerknaben)

- 3 Slaves: René Möller, Clemens-Maria Nuszbaumer, Christian Koch