Idomeneo

Background

After ten long years of the Trojan War, Idomeneo finally returns home victorious. Some of his forces have already returned and brought back Trojan prisoners, among them Ilia, daughter of the dead King Priam.

Upon his return from the war, Agamemnon, another victorious Greek king, was murdered by his wife Clytemnestra and her lover Aegisthus. Electra’s brother Orestes avenged his father’s death by killing both his mother and her lover. Electra, an orphan like Ilia, has taken refuge in Crete, where she has fallen in love with Idomeneo’s son Idamante, who has been ruling Crete in his father’s absence.

Act 1

Ilia grieves for her father Priam and her brothers, all killed during the Trojan War. Brought to Crete together with other Trojan prisoners of war, Ilia is torn between her secret love for the enemy king’s son Idamante and her loyalty to her people.

Idamante tells her that he loves her. He has decided that the victorious Greeks must embrace peace and pardon the enemy, and so he releases the Trojan prisoners.

At this moment Arbace, the king’s advisor, brings news that Idomeneo’s fleet has been shipwrecked in a storm and that Idomeneo has drowned. Electra, already outraged by Idamante’s decision to free the enemy prisoners, realises that if Idomeneo is dead she will be powerless to prevent Idamante from marrying Ilia.

The storm subsides. Idomeneo and his soldiers are spared. Alone, Idomeneo is tormented by guilt over the vow he made to Neptune* to sacrifice the first person he should meet if his own life were spared from the storm.

Idomeneo sees an unknown man approaching. It is his own son, Idamante, searching the shore for his father’s body. Father and son have not seen each other for more than ten years, so they do not recognise one another at first. When Idomeneo realises who his destined victim is to be, he rushes away, leaving Idamante in despair at the loss of his newly found father.

Idomeneo’s troops give thanks for their victory and their miraculous escape from shipwreck.

Act 2

Idomeneo confides in Arbace and begs him to help save his son. They agree that Idamante must leave Crete and that, as a pretext for the departure, he should escort Electra back to Argos.

Ilia tells Idomeneo that although she has lost everything, she now feels that Crete is her home and that Idomeneo is like a father to her. Alone, Idomeneo realises that Ilia is in love with Idamante and that all three of them will become victims of his rash vow.

Electra is delighted that Idamante is to escort her home. Away from Ilia, she is certain that he will come to love her again.

But just as she and Idamante are about to leave, a violent storm breaks out. Terrified, the people of Crete demand to know who must be sacrificed to appease Neptune. Unheard by the people, Idomeneo addresses the god, refusing to sacrifice an innocent victim and insisting that he alone should be punished.

An enormous sea monster appears, and the people flee in terror.

Act 3

Ilia wishes she had revealed her love to Idamante before he left, when suddenly he appears. He tells Ilia that since he must live without her, he has decided to destroy the monster and die.

Ilia begs him to live, and the two declare their love for each other. Idomeneo and Electra find them together, and Idomeneo commands his son to leave Crete immediately. Idamante agrees to depart, but alone.

Arbace tells Idomeneo that the people are demanding that he save them from the monster. Alone, Arbace laments the destruction of Crete. The High Priest shows Idomeneo the devastation caused by the monster and demands that the king name the victim who must be sacrificed. When Idomeneo reveals that the victim is his own son, Idamante, the people are deeply moved.

Idomeneo and the priests prepare for the sacrifice. Idamante is led in. He now understands that his father had been trying to protect him all along. Idamante courageously insists that the sacrifice must proceed, when Ilia interrupts, declaring that since she is the enemy of Greece, she alone must die.

The voice of Neptune is heard proclaiming that love has won: Idomeneo must surrender the throne to Idamante and Ilia, and the gods will be satisfied.

Electra is once again plunged into despair at the prospect of losing Idamante to Ilia. Idomeneo abdicates and announces peace. He instructs his people to accept Idamante as their new king and to follow a new path forward.

Robert Carsen

* In Greek mythology: Poseidon.
In the Italian libretto: Neptune, after Roman mythology.