or
  
   
Mozart: Idomeneo
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images

Mozart: Idomeneo

Glyndebourne Festival Chorus/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Soloists/Sir John Pritchard | Format: MP3 Download
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
Price: £15.99
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Album Savings: £29.40 compared to buying all songs

 
MP3 Songs Previous Play all Next Play all samples MP3 Now Playing Paused Loading ... Unavailable Loading ... Volume slider     Mute/Unmute  
To view this content, download Flash player (version 9.0.0 or higher)
Disc 1:
  Song Title Artist Time Price    
Play   1. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Overture Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:21 £0.89
Play   2. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Quando avran fine omai (Ilia) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:45 £0.89
Play   3. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Padre, germani, addio! (Ilia) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:56 £0.89
Play   4. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Radunate i Troiani, ite (Idamante/Ilia) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 2:01 £0.89
Play   5. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Non ho colpa (Idamante) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:13 £0.89
Play   6. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Ecco il misero resto de' Troiani (Ilia) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 0:53 £0.89
Play   7. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Coro de' Troiani e Cretesi: Godiam la pace Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 2:22 £0.89
Play   8. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Prence, signor (Elettra/Idamante/Arbace) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 2:04 £0.89
Play   9. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Estinto è Idomeneo? (Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:43 £0.89
Play 10. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Tutte nel cor vi sento (Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:43 £0.89
Play 11. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Coro: Pietà! Numi, pietà Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:16 £0.89
Play 12. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Ecco ci salvi alfin! (Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 2:26 £0.89
Play 13. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Vedrommi intorno, Recitativo: Cieli! che veggo! (Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:42 £0.89
Play 14. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Spiagge romite (Idamante/Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:22 £0.89
Play 15. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Ah, qual gelido orror (Idamante) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 0:51 £0.89
Play 16. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Il padre adorato ritrovo (Idamante) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 2:56 £0.89
Play 17. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Marcia Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:06 £0.89
Play 18. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Coro: Nettuno s'onori Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:37 £0.89
Play 19. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Siam soli, odomi Arbace (Idomeneo/Arbace) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 2:00 £0.89
Play 20. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Se mai pomposo apparse (Ilia/Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:34 £0.89
Play 21. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Se il padre perdei (Ilia) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 6:01 £0.89
Play 22. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Qual mi conturba i sensi (Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:53 £0.89
Play 23. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Fuor del mar (Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:15 £0.89
Play 24. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Chi mai del mio (Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:24 £0.89
Play 25. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Idol mio, se ritroso (Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:15 £0.89
Play 26. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Marcia (Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:07 £0.89
Disc 2:
  Song Title Artist Time Price    
Play   1. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Sidonie sponde (Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 0:37 £0.89
Play   2. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Coro: Placido è il mar (Coro/Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:16 £0.89
Play   3. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Parti, Idamante (Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 0:34 £0.89
Play   4. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Terzetto: Pria di partir, o Dio! (Idamante/Elettra/Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:09 £0.89
Play   5. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Coro: Qual nuovo terrore! Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:22 £0.89
Play   6. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Eccoti in me (Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:44 £0.89
Play   7. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Coro: Corriamo, fuggiamo Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:50 £0.89
Play   8. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Zefiretti lusinghieri (Ilia) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 5:40 £0.89
Play   9. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Principessa, a tuoi sguardi (Idamante/Ilia) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:08 £0.89
Play 10. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Duetto: Spiegarti non poss'io (Ilia/Idamante) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:05 £0.89
Play 11. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Cieli! che vedo? (Idomeneo/Ilia/Idamante/Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:31 £0.89
Play 12. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Quartetto: Andrò ramingo e solo Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 5:29 £0.89
Play 13. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Volgi intorno lo sguardo (Gran Sacredote), Recitativo: Non più! Sacro ministro (Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:17 £0.89
Play 14. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Coro: O, o voto tremendo! (Coro/Gran Sacerdote) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:52 £0.89
Play 15. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Marcia Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:08 £0.89
Play 16. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Accogli, o re del mar (Idomeneo/Gran Sacerdote e Sacerdoti) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:41 £0.89
Play 17. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Coro: Stupenda vittoria! (Coro/Idomeneo), Recitativo: Sire! il prence (Arbace) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 0:46 £0.89
Play 18. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Padre, mio caro padre! (Idamante/Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:47 £0.89
Play 19. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: No, la morte (Idamante/Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 4:20 £0.89
Play 20. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Ferma, o Sire, che fai? (Ilia/Idomeneo/Idamante/Gran Sacerdote/Elettra/La Voce/Arbace) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 2:36 £0.89
Play 21. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Oh smania! (Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 0:56 £0.89
Play 22. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria, D'Oreste, d'Aiace (Elettra) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 1:53 £0.89
Play 23. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Recitativo: Popoli! (Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:31 £0.89
Play 24. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Aria: Torna la pace al core (Idomeneo) Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 3:19 £0.89
Play 25. Idomeneo (2000 Digital Remaster): Coro: Scenda Amor, scenda Imeneo Richard Lewis/Léopold Simoneau/Sena Jurinac/Lucille Udovick/James Milligan/William McAlpine/Hervey Alan/Glyndebourne Chorus/Peter Gellhorn/Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra/Sir John Pritchard 2:37 £0.89
Sold by Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. By placing your order, you agree to our Terms of Use.

Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to learn about free downloads, special deals, and new releases.


Product details

Customer Reviews

4 star
0
3 star
0
2 star
0
1 star
0
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Source: 1956 studio version of tried-and-tested Glyndebourne Festival production.

Edition: Some cuts, but only of interest to a completist. The part of Idamante is sung by a tenor rather than a mezzo-soprano.

Documentation: No libretto. Track list. Keyed summary of plot. Nothing on the production. Nothing on cast.

Sound quality: Not perfect, but very good.

This is not one of Mozart's greatest operas. It is not remotely on a plane with the three transcendent works based on da Ponte's libretti, or with "Die Zauberfloete" or even "Die Entfuehrung aus dem Serail". That said, it is a great 18th Century opera, easily matching the very best of Gluck or Handel.

"Idomeneo" is unfortunately lumbered with an opera seria libretto. That is to say, it desperately lacks a Leporello, a Despina, the Three Ladies of the Queen of the Night or, indeed, any character with a vestige of humanity.

The plot is an old crock about the "nostoi" or the returns of the victors of the Trojan War. Idomeneo (Homer's Idomeneus), the king of Crete, caught in a storm, has offered Neptune the life of the first person he sees on dry land if he survives. Naturally, he meets his son, Idamante, who is, naturally, in love with Ilias, a captive Trojan princess and, naturally, that has annoyed Elletra (Aeshylus' Elektra), a visiting princess from a famously dysunctional family. More than two hours later, the creaky old plot ends with Neptune relenting, Idomeneo retiring and a frustrated Elletra storming off the stage in search of her own opera.

From a singer's point of view, all the music in "Idomeneo" is both exposed and fiendishly difficult. Mozart demands pefect vocal technique, leaving little or no room for flash or artful vocal dodging. Imagine "Don Giovanni" with a cast composed exclusively of Don Ottavios and Donna Annas and you have the flavor of "Idomeneo".

The cast on this recording is superb. The excellent Richard Lewis is Idomeneo. The even better Leopold Simoneau is Idamante. The radiant Sena Jurinac is Ilias and Lucille Udovick (a name otherwise unknown to me) is a very impressive Elletra. They make the musical lines sound easy, flowing and natural. (Singers will appreciate just how high that praise is!)

John Pritchard conducts very intelligently and gives the impression that this is a production in which all the kinks have been worked out in successful stage performances.

This is an excellent addition to any opera collection.

Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:  2 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
An excellent reading of an underrated opera 8 Jun 2002
By barilatura - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
I must admit I was not familiar with most of the singers on this album before I listened to it. However, they give a very strong performance, both in the arias and ensembles. If you're the type who only knows the Te Kanawa's and Domingo's of opera, give this one a listen. The highlight of the recording is Sena Jurinac, who makes a formidable Ilia. The overall sound quality is very good for an older recording, and at two discs for the price of one, it's quite a bargain!
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Excellent performance in good 1956 stereo sound 23 Jan 2004
By L. E. Cantrell - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
Source: 1956 studio version of tried-and-tested Glyndebourne Festival production.

Edition: Some cuts, but only of interest to a completist. The part of Idamante is sung by a tenor rather than a mezzo-soprano.

Documentation: No libretto. Keyed summary of plot. Nothing on the production. Nothing on cast.

Sound quality: Not perfect, but very good.

This is not one of Mozart's greatest operas. It is not remotely on a plane with the three transcendent works based on da Ponte's libretti, or with "Die Zauberfloete" or even "Die Entfuehrung aus dem Serail". That said, it is a great 18th Century opera, easily matching the very best of Gluck or Handel.

"Idomeneo" is unfortunately lumbered with an opera seria libretto. That is to say, it desperately lacks a Leporello, a Despina, the Three Ladies of the Queen of the Night or, indeed, any character with a vestige of humanity.

The plot is an old crock about the "nostoi" or the returns of the victors of the Trojan War. Idomeneo (Homer's Idomeneus), the king of Crete, caught in a storm, has offered Neptune the life of the first person he sees on dry land if he survives. Naturally, he meets his son, Idamante, who is, naturally, in love with Ilias, a captive Trojan princess and, naturally, that has annoyed Elletra (Homer's Elektra), a visiting princess from strong-gated Argos. Two and a half hours later, the creaky old plot ends with Neptune relenting, Idomeneo retiring and a frustrated Elletra storming off the stage in search of her own opera.

From a singer's point of view, all the music in "Idomeneo" is simultaneously exposed and fiendishly difficult. Mozart demands pefect vocal technique, leaving little or no room for flash or artful vocal dodging. Imagine "Don Giovanni" with a cast composed exclusively of Don Ottavios and Donna Annas and you have the flavor of "Idomeneo".

The cast on this recording is superb, with the excellent Richard Lewis as Idomeneo, the even better Leopold Simoneau as Idamante, the radiant Sena Jurinac as Ilias and Lucille Udovick (a name otherwise unknown to me) as a very impressive Elletra. They make the musical lines seem easy, flowing and natural. (Singers and wanna-be singers appreciate how high that praise is.)

John Pritchard conducts very intelligently and gives the impression that this is a production in which all the kinks have been worked out in successful stage performances.

This is an excellent addition to any opera collection.
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums

Look for similar items by category