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Metropolitan Opera, The: Idomeneo (1982)
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"For sheer depth of vocal talent, grasp of grand style and impressive décor, last night's performance of Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's production stood up to the best things the Met has given us in recent years."-The New York Times
Generally considered Mozart's earliest operatic masterpiece, Idomeneo was long overshadowed by the composer's later works - Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute and Cosi fan tutte.Indomeneo only began to be performed in major international opera houses after World War II.
What audiences since then have discovered is a rich bounty of Mozart's music, applied to a powerful classical plot.During a storm at sea, Indomeneo, King of Crete, vows to the god Neptune that if he survives, he will sacrifice 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 1982 production of Idomeneo was the first ever mounted at the Metropolitan.An international cast was assembled that could hardly be bettered.In the title role Luciano Pavarotti was praised for his great dignity, impeccable musical taste and remarkable clarity of tone and diction.Ileana Cotrubas is wonderful and lovely as Ilia, and Frederica von Stade in the role of Idamante sang and acted a just about ideal performance.Hildegard Behrens received a show stopping ovation for her concluding mad scene, while James Levine's conducting was judged flawless in pace and idiomatic understanding.
This presentation of Idomeneo is subtitled in English and was taped during the November 6, 1982 performance at the Metropolitan Opera.No material was taken from rehearsals, other performances or remake recording sessions.
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