Mozart's Idomeneo

Mozart's extremely inventive Idomeneo

With the opera seria Idomeneo from 1781, Mozart opens the door to his music-theatrical masterpieces. The time of virtuoso finger exercises is over and from now on, the seven titles that we still play, including the three Da Ponte operas, will follow in ten years. In Idomeneo, the power and potential of that mature period can be heard in every bar. With the amount of melodies and musical ideas that Mozart 'waste' here, many a colleague could compose an entire oeuvre.

Music for the music capital Munich

The bar was set high: the opera was commissioned by the Bavarian Elector in Munich, the musical Mecca of Germany at the time. The young composer not only had the best orchestra in the country at his disposal, but also a large choir. From the first aria of the king's son Idamante, 'Padre, germani, addio!' to the final chorus 'Scenda Amor...' the music continues to captivate. Duets and ensembles alternate, and all of this is crowned with ballet music that no one can sit still to.