MOZART

Vol. 20 Idomeneo (Highlights)
Suzanne Mentzer · Barbara Hendricks · Roberta Alexander · Francisco Araiza · Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks · Sir Colin Davis

CD 446 242-2
PHILIPS

When Mozart received the commission to write his second opera for Munich, he was still living in Salzburg. Varesco based the libretto for Idomeneo on Dachet's libretto for Campra's Tragédie-lyrique Idoménée (Paris 1712), changing the tragic ending to a happy one. The first performance took place in 1781 at the Hoftheater in Munich. Idomeneo is Mozart's first real operatic masterpiece. He took up the tradition of opera seria and and applied to it French influences (Gluck), so that the impetus and intensity of the work are unsurpassed. The sparkling cast of our recording, with Francisco Araiza in the title role, makes for an extremely gripping and dramatic interpretation of this score. Sir Colin Davis as conductor proves a trustworthy custodian of Mozart's ideas. - Idomeneo, returning home to Crete from the war against Troy, is caught in a storm at sea and in mortal fear promises Poseidon to sacrifice to him the first person who meets him on land: but this proves to be his son, Idamante. To save him, he sends him to Argos with Electra, although Idamante really loves Ilia. As they are about to board the ship a storm breaks out and a frightful sea monster appears. Idamante kills it, but must nonetheless be sacrificed in order to appease Poseidon. At the last moment the oracle decrees that Idomeneo must abdicate, naming Idamante as king and Ilia as his consort.

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