The tale of the opera

Idomeneo, Rè di Creta

As befits an opera seria, the tale is situated in the Antiquity, and deals with exalted people like kings, Gods, princesses and High Priests. The protagonist is Idomeneo, King of Crete, who figures in Homer's Iliad as one of the Greek besiegers of Troy. Like the tragedies of the great Greek playwrights (Aeschylos, Sophocles, and Euripides), the tale is of Hybris: Man opposes the Will of the Gods, and this causes no end of grief.
A lot of the action has taken place already before the opera starts, see the Prelude. Then follow acts One, Two and Three.

Prelude

The Trojan War has been fought. From the ruins of Troy, Idomeneo sends a ship of prisoners-of-war home to Crete. Among the prisoners is Ilia, daughter to King Priam. Before the Cretan coast, the ship is wrecked in a storm, but Ilia is saved by Idamante, son and heir of Idomeneo. She is invited to come and live in the royal palace, where one of the guests is Elettra (Elektra, later to become such a significant figure in opera), on tour from the Greek mainland. Elettra has fallen in love with Idamante, and is disturbed to notice a developing sympathy between Idamante and Ilia...
When Idomeneo himself sails home, his ship too gets caught in a great storm. Idomeneo fears never to see his homeland again, and offers sea god Neptune to sacrifice the first living being that he will meet ashore. Immediately, the storm abides.

First Act

Idamante views the shipwreck of his father's ship. Cover illustration on vocal score from 1822.

Ilia is torn between feelings of loyalty towards her homeland and her love for Idamante, who is after all the son of one the destroyers of Troy. Idamante liberates the Trojan prisoners of war, and Cretans and Trojans unite to sing in praise of peace. Then a message arrives that Idomeneo´s ship has been wrecked. Elettra, who had counted on his support to capture Idamante, gets into a rage.
Meanwhile we change scene to the beach, where Idomeneo has been throw on land after his vow to Neptune. Now the horror occurs. Idamante hurries to the beach after the news of Idomeneo´s shipwreck, and (of course) he is the first to arrive and meet Idomeneo. The father must sacrifice his own son to Neptune...
We have to thank the God for a terrific aria for the desperate King, this cannot be denied.

Second Act

Idomeneo explains his vow to Arbace, who advises him to try to escape reality and send Idamante abroad; he may escort Elettra home. In a moving farewell scene, Idamante and Elettra say goodbye to the others, Elettra in good hopes of conquering the prince during the sea voyage. But immediately a new storm is raised, this time depicted by the orchestra in full blast, and a horrible sea monster rises from the sea. Departure is impossible.

Third Act

Idamante returns to Ilia to tell her he must kill the monster. Finally, the two realise that their love is mutual. Meanwhile, Idomeneo is forced to tell his people where all problems originate. The sacrifice now seems inevitable, and Idamante, returning after having indeed finished the monster, agrees to die. In the nick of time, Ilia rushes in to offer herself in stead of Idamante. Now comes the magic part: a Voice is heard from inside the Earth: Neptune intervenes. He proclaims that Love has Triumphed, and that he is satisfied if Idomeneo will abduct in favour of Idamante, who must also marry Ilia. So everybody is happy... Except for Elettra of course, who gets into another rage.
The happy end, which is a departure from the classic tragedy, is dictated by the conventions of Opera Seria. For twentieth-century listeners, this may be hard to accept. But then, Gluck's Orfeo also ends in happy reunion, in stark contrast to the classical myth, too, and that opera is universally loved anyway.

Back to the Home Page

Back to the top

Idomeneo

VU-Kamerorkest home