Idomeneo

Generally considered mozarts earliest operatic masterpiece, Idomeneo was long overshadowed by the composers later works- Don Giovanni, the marriage of figaro, the magic flute and the cosi fan tutte, Idomeneo only began to be performed in the major international opera houses after world war 2. What audiences since have discovered is a rich bounty of Mozart's music applied to a powerful classical plot. During a storm at sea Idomeneo, King of Crete, vows to the god neptune that if he survives, he will sacrafice the first human he meets on shore. The victim turns out to be his own son, Idamante. Mozart revelled in the intense human emotions of the story, creating finely drawn musical portraits of each character. This presentation of Idomeneo is subtitled in English and was taped during the Nov 6, 1982 performance at the metropolitan opera. No material was taken from rehearsals, other performances or remake recording sessions.