Idomeneo
Dramma per musica in three acts
Libretto by Giambattista Varesco
in Italian with German and English surtitles
Libretto by Giambattista Varesco
in Italian with German and English surtitles
Fear of death - a bad advisor since time immemorial: King Idomeneo, whose fleet sinks into the waters of Crete shortly before returning home from the Trojan War, swears to the sea god Poseidon that if he survives, he will sacrifice the first human being he meets on the shore. But as fate – or rather the theater – would have it, this is of course his own son Idamante. To make matters worse, he has fallen in love with a Trojan prisoner, Ilia, which infuriates the Greek princess Elettra. Idomeneo, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s perfect "drama for music", is one of a series of Greek war dramas retold according to the taste of the 18th century. The classical logic of tragedy, according to which the failure to act of those in power has fatal consequences for the general public and can only be atoned for by the downfall and destruction of the guilty, is redirected by a mandatory happy ending dictated by mysterious divine voices: Idomeneo steps back, but Poseidon’s sea monsters remain where they belong. Idamante and Ilia take over, peace for all and curtains please.
But does such a promise still hold true today? Director Bastian Kraft and the team from the successful production Rusalka stage a reflection on fathers’ fear of their own sons, traces of the archaic in European civilization, the rebellion of nature and the last generations. Idomeneo is one of the most exciting works of its time, with tone paintings bursting with imagination that compose masterful arias and choruses into larger scenic contexts. Under GMD Cornelius Meister’s baton, Mozart’s "Sturm und Drang" opera, composed at the age of 24, promises to be a true experience.
But does such a promise still hold true today? Director Bastian Kraft and the team from the successful production Rusalka stage a reflection on fathers’ fear of their own sons, traces of the archaic in European civilization, the rebellion of nature and the last generations. Idomeneo is one of the most exciting works of its time, with tone paintings bursting with imagination that compose masterful arias and choruses into larger scenic contexts. Under GMD Cornelius Meister’s baton, Mozart’s "Sturm und Drang" opera, composed at the age of 24, promises to be a true experience.
#StgtIdomeneo
Duration
I. + II. Act: approx. 1 h 30 min
Interval: approx. 25-30 min
III. Act: approx. 1 h
I. + II. Act: approx. 1 h 30 min
Interval: approx. 25-30 min
III. Act: approx. 1 h
World premiere
1781 in Munich
Premiere of this production
November 24, 2024
1781 in Munich
Premiere of this production
November 24, 2024
Recommended age
from class 8
from class 8
There will be a german introduction 45 minutes before the performance at Foyer I. floor.
Nov 2024
Dec 2024
Idomeneo
Cast
Idomeneo
Cast
Musikalische Leitung Cornelius Meister
Regie Bastian Kraft
Bühne Peter Baur
Kostüme Jelena Miletić
Video Sophie Lux
Licht Gerrit Jurda
Chor Manuel Pujol
Dramaturgie Franz-Erdmann Meyer-Herder
Regie Bastian Kraft
Bühne Peter Baur
Kostüme Jelena Miletić
Video Sophie Lux
Licht Gerrit Jurda
Chor Manuel Pujol
Dramaturgie Franz-Erdmann Meyer-Herder
Idomeneo Jeremy Ovenden
Idamante Anett Fritsch
Ilia Lavinia Bini
Elettra Diana Haller
Arbace Charles Sy
Oberpriester Neptuns Eleazar Rodríguez
Stimme Neptuns Aleksander Myrling
Staatsorchester Stuttgart, Staatsopernchor Stuttgart
Idamante Anett Fritsch
Ilia Lavinia Bini
Elettra Diana Haller
Arbace Charles Sy
Oberpriester Neptuns Eleazar Rodríguez
Stimme Neptuns Aleksander Myrling
Staatsorchester Stuttgart, Staatsopernchor Stuttgart
Idomeneo
Cast
Synopsis
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,
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,
wreaking havoc. The people desire to know who has aroused the wrath of the gods and who can appease them. Idomeneo confesses to being guilty but refuses atonement, saying he is not entitled to it. Horrified, the people scatter and run away.
Act Three
Alone in the palace gardens, Ilia dwells on her infatuation with Idamante. Then the prince himself arrives and reveals his despair to her: his father is avoiding him and he cannot confide in anyone; he will renounce his passion to save her soul, and instead seek death in the fight against the monster. At this point Ilia, confesses her love for him. Idamante is almost in disbelief at his good fortune, but at that moment they are discovered by Idomeneo and also by Elettra, who subsequently appears. Startled, they all look at each other: as things stand, there is no chance of a happy reconciliation. In a final attempt to avoid fulfilling his vow, Idomeneo sends Idamante away once more, and the four of them part in a state of distress. Idomeneo’s confidant Arbace storms in and reports that the people are demanding an explanation from their king. The high priest of Neptune tells of the devastation wrought by the monster on Crete and the plague that is ravaging the population. The pressure on Idomeneo reaches its climax when, in front of the people, the high priest urges him to reveal the name of the person whose sacrifice has been promised to Neptune. The king finally answers: it is Idamante. As the people turn away in horror, the sacrificial ceremony is prepared. Rushing Arbace reports that Idamante has slain the monster with his own hands. Everyone knows that this will only further fuel the wrath of the gods, however. Now that Idamante himself has learnt what his fate is to be, he obediently submits and preparations for the sacrifice continue. But just before Idomeneo is able to take his own son’s life, Ilia intervenes between the two. Since she was born an enemy of the Greeks, she says, the god should accept her as a sacrifice instead of Idamante. The statue of Neptune quakes and a voice proclaims that Idomeneo has been released from his vow – on one condition: he is to abdicate and yield the throne to the bride and groom Ilia and Idamante. Amidst universal celebrations, the people eagerly await the couple’s wedding. Only Elettra cannot share in this joy: she burns with rage and longs for her own death.
Act Three
Alone in the palace gardens, Ilia dwells on her infatuation with Idamante. Then the prince himself arrives and reveals his despair to her: his father is avoiding him and he cannot confide in anyone; he will renounce his passion to save her soul, and instead seek death in the fight against the monster. At this point Ilia, confesses her love for him. Idamante is almost in disbelief at his good fortune, but at that moment they are discovered by Idomeneo and also by Elettra, who subsequently appears. Startled, they all look at each other: as things stand, there is no chance of a happy reconciliation. In a final attempt to avoid fulfilling his vow, Idomeneo sends Idamante away once more, and the four of them part in a state of distress. Idomeneo’s confidant Arbace storms in and reports that the people are demanding an explanation from their king. The high priest of Neptune tells of the devastation wrought by the monster on Crete and the plague that is ravaging the population. The pressure on Idomeneo reaches its climax when, in front of the people, the high priest urges him to reveal the name of the person whose sacrifice has been promised to Neptune. The king finally answers: it is Idamante. As the people turn away in horror, the sacrificial ceremony is prepared. Rushing Arbace reports that Idamante has slain the monster with his own hands. Everyone knows that this will only further fuel the wrath of the gods, however. Now that Idamante himself has learnt what his fate is to be, he obediently submits and preparations for the sacrifice continue. But just before Idomeneo is able to take his own son’s life, Ilia intervenes between the two. Since she was born an enemy of the Greeks, she says, the god should accept her as a sacrifice instead of Idamante. The statue of Neptune quakes and a voice proclaims that Idomeneo has been released from his vow – on one condition: he is to abdicate and yield the throne to the bride and groom Ilia and Idamante. Amidst universal celebrations, the people eagerly await the couple’s wedding. Only Elettra cannot share in this joy: she burns with rage and longs for her own death.
Libretto
The complete text of the opera in english translation can be found here: