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Music: W.A. Mozart.Lyrics:Giambattista Varesco.
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First performance at Cuvilliés Residenztheater in Münich on the 29 of January 1781.
| Role | Voicetype |
|---|---|
| Idomeneo | tenor |
| Ilia | soprano |
| Idamante | tenor |
| Elektra | soprano |
| High priest | tenor |
| Arbace | tenor |
| Oracle | bass |
The action takes place about ten years after the end of the Trojan war. Idomeneo, King of Crete, is returning home after an absence of twenty years. During this time his son, Idamante, whom he left as a child, has grown to manhood. The prisoners captured by Idomeneo in Troy, including Ilia, daughter of the Trojan King, Priam, have been sent back to Crete in advance of his own arrival. Ilia and Idamante have fallen in love. Ilia has a rival in the Greek princess Electra, who has taken refuge in Crete after the murder of her mother Clytemnestra.
Ilia bewails her fate and her love for Idamante. Idamante enters and tells her that the returning fleet of Idomeneo has been sighted. He declares his love for her, but she refuses to listen, reminding him of the enmity between their fathers and countries. The chorus of rejoicing is interrupted by Electra, who upbraids Idamante for showing fdavour to the enemies of his people, and then by Arbace, who announces that Idomeneo´s ship has been wrecked close to the shore. Electra curses Idamante´s love for Ilia and calls on the Furies to avenge her own love, which he has rejected. The cries of the shipwrecked sailors are heard and Idomeneo, washed ashore and exhausted, tells how he saved his own life by vowing to sacrifice to Neptune the first person he should meet on landing. Idamante approaches to help him: At first they do not recognize one another but it is soon clear to Idomeneo that his vow to Neptune means that he must sacrifice his own son. Abruptly he leaves Idamante who cannot understand his father´s attitude towards him. The chorus sing praises to Neptune.
On the advice of Arbace, Idomeneo attempts to evade his vow by sending Idamante to escort Electra back to Argos. Ilia tells Idomeneo of her gratitude for her treatment in Crete and inwittingly betrays her love for Idamannte and his for her. This is an additional blow of fate for Idomeneo who reviles Neptune for saving him from death, only to torture him with remorse.
Electra comes to thank him for arranging for Idamante to take her back to her country. Idamante and Electra take leave of Idomeneo. A storm arises and a monster issues from the sea, which threatens destruction to all. Idomeneo confesses that he has offended Neptune in failing to keep his vow.
Ilia sings of her love for Idamante. He enters to tell her that he has determined to kill the monster or die in the attempt, this makes her admit her love for him. Electra and Idomeneo enter and Idomeneo orders his son to leave for Argos. The people, ravaged both by the monster and by pestilence, come to demand the necessary victim. Idomeneo discloses that it must be his son.
As Idomeneo prepares to make the sacrifice, Idamante appears, having killed the monster, is ready to die. Ilia offers her own life in place of his. Suddenly, an oracular voice proclaims that the anger of the gos is appeased but that Idomeneo must abdicate and Idamante, united to Ilia must rule in his place. After a final outburst of rage from Electra, Idomeneo renounces the throne and Idamante is crowned amid general rejoicing.
Adress:http://www.mogensoperasidor.se/idomeneoenglish.htm