{"id":128884,"date":"2026-06-29T11:25:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T09:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/?p=128884"},"modified":"2026-06-29T11:29:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T09:29:43","slug":"a-comedian-in-the-seraglio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/","title":{"rendered":"Ein Komiker im Serail"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":337,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4568,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-128884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-culture","category-uncategorized"],"acf":{"legacy":false,"exclude_from_ads":[],"hero_title":"","subtitle":"","hero":{"video":false,"image":false,"header_color":"black","overlay_color":"","overlay_text_color":"black"},"teasers":{"video":false,"image":{"ID":128914,"id":128914,"title":"STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS","filename":"STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","filesize":388367,"url":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/staatsoper_a-roentz_finals\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"Germany\u2019s best-known comedian wanted to become an opera singer as a teenager. Now, he plays both Bassa Selim and himself on stage. Photography by Anton R\u00f6ntz. ","name":"staatsoper_a-roentz_finals","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":128884,"date":"2026-06-24 15:03:32","modified":"2026-06-24 15:57:34","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1466,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","thumbnail-width":73,"thumbnail-height":96,"medium":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","medium-width":1466,"medium-height":1920,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","medium_large-width":1466,"medium_large-height":1920,"large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","large-width":1466,"large-height":1920,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-1173x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1173,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","2048x2048-width":1466,"2048x2048-height":1920,"trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-9x12.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag-width":9,"trp-custom-language-flag-height":12,"wpvr_mobile":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","wpvr_mobile-width":1466,"wpvr_mobile-height":1920}},"width":"4","proportion":"default"},"facebook_image":false,"related_articles":"","next_article":"","main_category":false,"content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"<p>A first in opera brings comedy and Mozart into dialogue.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":[{"ID":128900,"id":128900,"title":"b\u00fclent 2","filename":"bulent-2-.jpg","filesize":354670,"url":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-2-.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/bulent-2\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"Photography by Anton R\u00f6ntz. ","name":"bulent-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":128884,"date":"2026-06-24 14:23:47","modified":"2026-06-24 15:57:26","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1099,"height":1440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-2-.jpg","thumbnail-width":73,"thumbnail-height":96,"medium":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-2-.jpg","medium-width":1099,"medium-height":1440,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-2-.jpg","medium_large-width":1099,"medium_large-height":1440,"large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-2-.jpg","large-width":1099,"large-height":1440,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-2-.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1440,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-2-.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1440,"trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-2--9x12.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag-width":9,"trp-custom-language-flag-height":12,"wpvr_mobile":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-2-.jpg","wpvr_mobile-width":1099,"wpvr_mobile-height":1440}},{"ID":128914,"id":128914,"title":"STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS","filename":"STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","filesize":388367,"url":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/staatsoper_a-roentz_finals\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"Germany\u2019s best-known comedian wanted to become an opera singer as a teenager. Now, he plays both Bassa Selim and himself on stage. Photography by Anton R\u00f6ntz. ","name":"staatsoper_a-roentz_finals","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":128884,"date":"2026-06-24 15:03:32","modified":"2026-06-24 15:57:34","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1466,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","thumbnail-width":73,"thumbnail-height":96,"medium":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","medium-width":1466,"medium-height":1920,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","medium_large-width":1466,"medium_large-height":1920,"large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","large-width":1466,"large-height":1920,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-1173x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1173,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","2048x2048-width":1466,"2048x2048-height":1920,"trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-9x12.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag-width":9,"trp-custom-language-flag-height":12,"wpvr_mobile":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS.jpg","wpvr_mobile-width":1466,"wpvr_mobile-height":1920}},{"ID":128911,"id":128911,"title":"b\u00fclent 4","filename":"bulent-4-.jpg","filesize":451687,"url":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-4-.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/bulent-4\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"Comedian B\u00dcLENT CEYLAN and director ANDREA MOSES behind the scenes at the Staatsoper Berlin ahead of the premiere of Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio on 27 June 2026. Photography by Anton R\u00f6ntz. ","name":"bulent-4","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":128884,"date":"2026-06-24 14:57:33","modified":"2026-06-24 15:57:41","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1099,"height":1440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-4-.jpg","thumbnail-width":73,"thumbnail-height":96,"medium":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-4-.jpg","medium-width":1099,"medium-height":1440,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-4-.jpg","medium_large-width":1099,"medium_large-height":1440,"large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-4-.jpg","large-width":1099,"large-height":1440,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-4-.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1440,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-4-.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1440,"trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-4--9x12.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag-width":9,"trp-custom-language-flag-height":12,"wpvr_mobile":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-4-.jpg","wpvr_mobile-width":1099,"wpvr_mobile-height":1440}}],"settings":{"fit_width":"4","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">For the new production of Mozart\u2019s The Abduction from the Seraglio (1782) at the Berlin State Opera, opera meets stand-up: comedian B\u00dcLENT CEYLAN takes on the role of Bassa Selim and comments live on the action unfolding on stage. Together with director ANDREA MOSES, he discusses cultural barriers, humour and the question of who opera actually belongs to today.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"<p><strong>BURCU BEAUFORT<\/strong> B\u00fclent, what is your connection to opera?<\/p>\n<p><strong>B\u00dcLENT CEYLAN<\/strong> When I was a teenager, I actually wanted to become an opera singer. My singing teachers told me I was a bass-baritone. I\u2019d always enjoyed listening to opera and classical music; I\u2019ve always had a connection to it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BB<\/strong> And why didn\u2019t you pursue a career as an opera singer?<\/p>\n<p><strong>BC<\/strong> Well, I was told at some point that the superstars are the tenors. That was the end of that for me.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BB<\/strong> How did the idea come about to bring B\u00fclent into a Mozart opera in this way?<\/p>\n<p><strong>ANDREA MOSES<\/strong> The artistic director, Elisabeth Sobotka, suggested the piece to me and came up with the idea of casting B\u00fclent as Bassa Selim. But nobody knew how. So I took on the task and first had to find the artistic reason why it had to be B\u00fclent and nobody else. Now I feel: it can only be B\u00fclent.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BB<\/strong> When the idea came up, did you agree straight away, or did you have doubts about whether it would work at all?<\/p>\n<p><strong>AM<\/strong> To be honest, I was surprised at first and just thought: \u201cWow, that\u2019s a real challenge.\u201d I then read B\u00fclent\u2019s biography Ankommen: Aber wo war ich eigentlich?, which really moved me. In it, he describes his childhood in Mannheim-Waldhof, marked by crises, discrimination and bullying due to his background. This \u2018othering\u2019, the feeling of being the \u2018other\u2019 and still standing your ground, sounds familiar to me. What\u2019s special about B\u00fclent is that he didn\u2019t elbow his way past others to achieve success, but instead uses his work to encourage understanding. He addresses racism, cultural appropriation and prejudice, with extreme perspectives on every side, precisely the themes that also lie at the heart of this play. Bassa Selim, too, is excluded from his world. In the end, he shows generosity, learns that he cannot force love, and that he must forgive. This is precisely where we find the connection to B\u00fclent, who repeatedly speaks of tolerance and forgiveness in his shows.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":[{"ID":128901,"id":128901,"title":"b\u00fclent 3","filename":"bulent-3-.jpg","filesize":361950,"url":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-3-.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/bulent-3\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"Photography by Anton R\u00f6ntz. ","name":"bulent-3","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":128884,"date":"2026-06-24 14:24:38","modified":"2026-06-24 15:57:47","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1440,"height":1080,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-3-.jpg","thumbnail-width":128,"thumbnail-height":96,"medium":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-3-.jpg","medium-width":1440,"medium-height":1080,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-3-.jpg","medium_large-width":1440,"medium_large-height":1080,"large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-3-.jpg","large-width":1440,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-3-.jpg","1536x1536-width":1440,"1536x1536-height":1080,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-3-.jpg","2048x2048-width":1440,"2048x2048-height":1080,"trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-3--16x12.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag-width":16,"trp-custom-language-flag-height":12,"wpvr_mobile":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/bulent-3-.jpg","wpvr_mobile-width":1440,"wpvr_mobile-height":1080}}],"settings":{"fit_width":"4","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"<p><strong>BB<\/strong> B\u00fclent, what did you have in mind for this project when Andrea approached you?<\/p>\n<p><strong>BC<\/strong> At first I thought I\u2019d just be playing Bassa Selim and simply performing the role. But in our production of the play, the boundaries between the role and my own personality become blurred. That\u2019s why it\u2019s such a wild ride.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BB<\/strong> Has the text been heavily adapted? How is B\u00fclent involved in that?<\/p>\n<p><strong>BC<\/strong> It\u2019s not just that I\u2019m co-writing it; the whole play is designed around me. I host the whole thing whilst simultaneously playing Bassa Selim, a speaking role.<\/p>\n<p><strong>AM<\/strong> Actually, the text for this character is brand new. It was written together with B\u00fclent and my dramaturg, Michael H\u00f6ppner. We don\u2019t touch the song lyrics. A completely new format has emerged: a comedian hosts what happens on stage. Mozart plays a crucial role here if you want to place the piece in its historical context. Back then, the aim was to make fun of the Turks, who had already besieged Vienna twice; but that is only one side of the story. Mozart was in the service of the enlightened monarch Joseph II, who issued the so-called Patent of Toleration, which concerns religious freedom. Yet this very same Joseph plans to push the Turks back beyond the Bosphorus. Through Bassa Selim \u2013 a Habsburg dressed in Ottoman costume \u2013 Mozart subtly presents him with a call for moderation, generosity towards enemies and tolerance, which implies far more than only religious freedom. B\u00fclent very much follows this Enlightenment tradition. He plays just as much with prejudices, makes people laugh, holds up a mirror to them and makes demands.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BB<\/strong> How does the play change as a result of this \u201cexpanded role\u201d of B\u00fclent as both commentator and presenter?<\/p>\n<p><strong>AM<\/strong> It really is a play full of verbal missteps, both regarding the portrayal of women and the portrayal of Turks. Through B\u00fclent, I am able to make fun of all this and, for example, show Europeans their own racism. For me, this creates a space to explore things that can no longer really be presented in this way, but which are far from resolved and still need to be addressed. Through the dynamic with B\u00fclent, I can juggle all these elements at once and keep them in the air. Through his moderation, the clashes between characters and their brutal views, created by Mozart and his librettist, can be brought to light once more.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"images","gallery":[{"ID":128898,"id":128898,"title":"B\u00fclent Bild 1","filename":"Bulent-Bild-1-.jpg","filesize":252677,"url":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bulent-Bild-1-.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/bulent-bild-1\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"Photography by Anton R\u00f6ntz. 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","name":"bulent-grun","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":128884,"date":"2026-06-24 14:58:55","modified":"2026-06-24 15:57:57","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1099,"height":1440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bulent-grun.jpg","thumbnail-width":73,"thumbnail-height":96,"medium":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bulent-grun.jpg","medium-width":1099,"medium-height":1440,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bulent-grun.jpg","medium_large-width":1099,"medium_large-height":1440,"large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bulent-grun.jpg","large-width":1099,"large-height":1440,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bulent-grun.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1440,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bulent-grun.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1440,"trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bulent-grun-9x12.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag-width":9,"trp-custom-language-flag-height":12,"wpvr_mobile":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Bulent-grun.jpg","wpvr_mobile-width":1099,"wpvr_mobile-height":1440}},{"ID":128913,"id":128913,"title":"STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS 6","filename":"STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6.jpg","filesize":468675,"url":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/staatsoper_a-roentz_finals-6\/","alt":"","author":"1","description":"","caption":"A first in opera that required some persuasion. But Moses is convinced: \u201cIt can only be B\u00fclent,\u201d and is looking forward to this unique cultural exchange. Photography by Anton R\u00f6ntz. ","name":"staatsoper_a-roentz_finals-6","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":128884,"date":"2026-06-24 15:02:03","modified":"2026-06-24 15:58:05","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1466,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6.jpg","thumbnail-width":73,"thumbnail-height":96,"medium":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6.jpg","medium-width":1466,"medium-height":1920,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6.jpg","medium_large-width":1466,"medium_large-height":1920,"large":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6.jpg","large-width":1466,"large-height":1920,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6-1173x1536.jpg","1536x1536-width":1173,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6.jpg","2048x2048-width":1466,"2048x2048-height":1920,"trp-custom-language-flag":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6-9x12.jpg","trp-custom-language-flag-width":9,"trp-custom-language-flag-height":12,"wpvr_mobile":"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/STAATSOPER_A.ROENTZ_FINALS-6.jpg","wpvr_mobile-width":1466,"wpvr_mobile-height":1920}}],"settings":{"fit_width":"4","caption":""}},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"<p><strong>BB<\/strong> The piece also contains problematic images of the Orient. How do you deal with that?<\/p>\n<p><strong>BC<\/strong> That is precisely what we wanted to address. There are terms that make one wonder today: \u201cIs it still considered acceptable to say that?\u201d I don\u2019t just perform; I also comment on it. That\u2019s how I build a bridge from the historical opera to the present day. For example: how do you view the relationship between Bassa Selim and Konstanze? From today\u2019s perspective, it\u2019s actually toxic: he keeps her captive whilst at the same time wanting to please her. It\u2019s an intense scene, but one that can certainly be transposed to the present day. Some women still feel as though they\u2019ve been kidnapped, even within a marriage. I slip in my own comments on this during the narration. Since I\u2019m B\u00fclent and people know my background, I can blend these identities perfectly. Even the \u2018evil\u2019 Bassa Selim comes across differently through my portrayal. As B\u00fclent on stage, I also find myself wondering: \u201cHow did this Bassa Selim become the way he is? Was he perhaps quite sweet as a child? Why did he flee to Turkey? He was a Christian, after all, and is now a Muslim.\u201d This is the reverse of the narrative we usually hear, and makes the subject more relevant than ever.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BB<\/strong> What is the biggest challenge for you in this project, and how would you know that it\u2019s a success?<\/p>\n<p><strong>BC<\/strong> The fact that the audience will initially consist mainly of regular opera-goers is, for me, a challenge in itself. I\u2019ll open in a way that lets me immediately gauge whether the audience is prepared to laugh at something like this. As soon as the first laugh comes, I\u2019ll know the ice has been broken.<\/p>\n<p><strong>AM<\/strong> Ultimately, the connection between B\u00fclent and the show is one thing. We\u2019ve worked incredibly hard on that. The other is the question of how it all fits together with the singers. But I\u2019m not afraid of negative reactions, because opera often polarises, especially when you\u2019re taking a strong stance and working in a very contemporary way. I\u2019m actually looking forward to this cultural exchange, this \u201cclash of civilisations\u201d. It takes place not only on stage, but also between the audience and the main character who guides us through the evening. At the centre of it all is a world-class orchestra conducted by the outstanding Thomas Guggeis. Added to this is a spectacular lighting design and many references to B\u00fclent\u2019s show. Sometimes even I feel dizzy with all the different layers. It\u2019s like solving a massive maths problem. If it works, this format could be groundbreaking for bringing opera to new audiences. It\u2019s a truly modern way of telling a classic story.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BB<\/strong> You\u2019ll probably bring B\u00fclent\u2019s own audience to the opera?<\/p>\n<p><strong>AM<\/strong> We certainly hope so!<\/p>\n<p><strong>BC<\/strong> Many in my audience have already told me they\u2019d love to come. When Pavarotti was performing, he reached people from all walks of life. He became the pop star of the opera world. I want to show that this music can touch anyone, no matter where they come from.<\/p>\n<p><strong>AM<\/strong> I want opera to have an impact on people\u2019s lives. In my view and practice, it is an art form that speaks to the whole of society and, when well-staged, offers powerful stories and profound emotions. The fact that B\u00fclent is now commenting on the whole thing, I couldn&#8217;t imagine a better fit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BB<\/strong> There\u2019s an anecdote that Mozart allegedly sat incognito in the audience at a performance of The Abduction from the Seraglio and intervened. If Mozart were sitting in the theatre at your production today, what do you think he would make of it?<\/p>\n<p><strong>BC<\/strong> I think he\u2019d find the commentary amusing. I think he\u2019d have liked it, because in his own way, he made fun of the Turks. Of course, we have to view that differently today, but in his day, that\u2019s exactly what he did. And the orchestra, that has to be perfect.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"text_area","text_area":"<p>Credits:<\/p>\n<p>Photography: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/antonroentz\/\">ANTON R\u00d6NTZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Creative Production: HANNES AECHTER, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/johannaerdl\/\">JOHANNA ERDL<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Hair &amp; Makeup: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/sydneyraab\/\">SYDNEY RAAB<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Photography Assistant: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mmiliuss\/\">TILL MILIUS<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Set Assistant: AMINA ZEROUROU<\/p>\n"}],"sleek_card_focus":"mid"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Comedian In The Seraglio A Comedian In The Seraglio<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"de_DE\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Comedian In The Seraglio A Comedian In The Seraglio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/de\/article\/a-comedian-in-the-seraglio\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sleek Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sleekmag\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-29T09:25:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-29T09:29:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@sleekmag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@sleekmag\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Verfasst von\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Burcu Beaufort\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sleek-mag.com\/\",\"name\":\"Sleek Magazine\",\"description\":\"Sleek is Germany\u2019s leading independent media house\/brand for creativity and innovation located in Berlin the creative capital of the world. 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