Idomeneo

Background
After lying under siege for ten years, Troy lies in ruins. One by one, the Greek heroes return home to find everything has changed: Odysseus spends another ten years wandering from coast to coast throughout the Mediterranean, for example. On his return he finds the court full of pretenders, his own wife estranged, and a son who has grown up without a fatherly role model. Meanwhile, Agamemnon of Mycenae brings the Trojan prophetess Cassandra home as a spoil of war, but the two are slain by his wife and her lover to revenge the sacrifice of his daughter Iphigenia. This leaves behind a traumatised generation: Orestes, who has murdered his own mother, and his sister Elettra, who instigated him to commit this act. In peril at sea, King Idomeneo swears to make a sacrifice to Neptune, god of the sea: it is to be the first person he encounters on the shores of his native Crete.

Act One
Captured as a spoil of war, Ilia laments her fate in solitude: having witnessed the downfall of her entire dynasty, she is now being held prisoner in Crete. The king’s young son Idamante releases the prisoners of war out of love for her, but he cannot publicly confess his love for a freed slave. Despite the inherent hostility between their peoples, Ilia likewise senses a deep affection for Idamante – a source of inner torment for her. This in turn sparks the jealousy of the Mycenaean princess Elettra: having found refuge on Crete after fleeing the misfortunes of her family, she claims Idamante as her own. Believed to be dead since his fleet was seen to sink, King Idomeneo is cast onto a beach by a raging storm. He is now haunted by the vow he made to Neptune – tormented by guilt even before he encounters his victim. He sees a young man approaching on the beach and a conversation ensues. The stranger is Idamante, who is tormented by his love. It is not long before father and son recognise each other. To Idamante’s confusion, however, Idomeneo turns away from him in horror: the reunion is not a happy one, and Idamante collapses in despair.

Act Two
Idomeneo seeks counsel from his confidant Arbace: in order to avoid fulfilling the vow, Idamante is to travel to Mycenae accompanied by Elettra and occupy the abandoned throne there. Ilia and Idomeneo meet and, much to the king’s irritation, discover a mutual affection. Having noticed Idamante’s love for Ilia, Idomeneo now senses the growing turmoil of the deadlocked situation. Elettra is the only one who cannot believe her luck: Idamante is to leave Crete with her and become her companion. The prince reluctantly prepares to leave, while Ilia is likewise torn apart by the pain of separation. Idomeneo will not tolerate dissent, however, and forces his son to obey. A storm breaks out and a terrible monster rises from the sea,