Opera Idaho opens season with Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio

Opera Idaho kicks off its 2026-27 season Oct. 16 and 18 at Boise’s Egyptian Theatre with Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio. The production blends guest artists, local talent and projected English captions for the company’s first opera in German and its first Mozart staging since 2023.

Why it matters: - Opera Idaho is opening its season with a Mozart opera that mixes comedy, romance and a rescue plot in a historic Boise venue. - The production is the company’s first opera performed in German and its first Mozart opera since October 2023. - English dialogue and projected English captions are meant to make the performance accessible while preserving Mozart’s original score.

What happened: - Opera Idaho will stage The Abduction from the Seraglio on Oct. 16 and 18, 2026, at the Egyptian Theatre in Boise. - The opera opens the company’s 2026-27 season. - The production brings together nationally recognized guest artists, Boise performers and scenic and projection design. - The opera is sung in German, with English dialogue and English captions above the stage.

The details: - Soprano Christina Mancheni sings Konstanze. Mancheni is an assistant professor of music: voice at Boise State University. - Mancheni has appeared with Utah Opera, Opera Las Vegas and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and performed at the St. Bart’s Music Festival under Maestro Steven Mercurio. - Tenor Thomas Glenn sings Belmonte. Glenn won a 2012 Grammy for Best Opera Recording for John Adams’s Doctor Atomic. - Glenn has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera and English National Opera. - Bass Ron Dukes sings Osmin. Dukes trained in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center. - Dukes has appeared with Houston Grand Opera and Pittsburgh Opera. - Soprano Ivy Zhou sings Blonde, tenor Andrew Peck sings Pedrillo and Jeffrey Seppala sings Pasha Selim. - Stage Director James Marvel leads the production. - DJ Pike handles scenic and projection design. - Music Director and Principal Conductor Andy Anderson conducts the Opera Idaho Orchestra. - Opera Idaho General Director Stacey Trenteseaux said the production is meant to invite both longtime opera fans and first-time audiences. - Before each performance, Opera Idaho will offer Center Stage with Stacey, a 30-minute introduction to the story, characters and music. - The pre-show talk starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday and is included with an opera ticket. - Opera Idaho will host a pre-performance dinner on Friday, Oct. 16, in The Cellar at Red Feather Lounge. - Dinner check-in is at 4 p.m., with dinner at 4:30 p.m. - The dinner includes light appetizers, a three-course meal with wine pairings, music by Opera Idaho artists and VIP parking for the performance. - Dinner tickets cost $150 per person and do not include opera admission. - Dinner tickets are available through Opera Idaho. - Opera tickets are available at tickets and event details or by calling 208.345.3531. - Ticket prices are $41-$132 for adults, $33-$119 for seniors and $29-$87 for youth, including fees and tax. - Military discounts are available. - Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. - The Egyptian Theatre is at 700 W. Main St. in Boise.

Between the lines: - Opera Idaho is pairing a familiar Mozart title with modern staging and projected captions to broaden access without changing the core work. - The cast blends local ties, such as Mancheni’s Boise State role, with artists who have national and international credits. - The company is using the production to frame opera as both approachable and high-skill, with a mix of comedy, strong vocal writing and a clear pre-show entry point.

What's next: - Opera Idaho is directing audiences to purchase tickets now for the October performances. - The company is also promoting production updates and behind-the-scenes content on Instagram and Facebook. - If demand is strong, the opening-weekend dinner and pre-show events could become part of the broader audience experience around the production.

The bottom line: - Opera Idaho is betting that Mozart, a strong cast and audience-friendly extras will turn The Abduction from the Seraglio into a seasonal launch point for both loyal patrons and newcomers.