Mozart: Idomeneo; Graf; Aix-en-Provence (1986) Langridge, Greenberg, Piland, Coelho

Hans Graf, Polish Chamber Orchestra (Recorded 22nd (?) July, 1986, Théâtre de l'Archevêché) Idomeneo — Philip Langridge Idamante — Jeanne Piland Ilia — Sylvia Greenberg Elettra — Eliane Coelho Arbace — Marek Torzewski High Priest of Neptune — Bruce Ford Voice of Neptune — Sean Rea The production was by Pierre Strosser. The costumes were by Patrice Cauchetier. =============== Arthur Jacobs in "Opera" magazine wrote: "The end of "Idomeneo" left two bodies on stage, two more than the composer intended. They were those of Arbace and Elettra, but the only corpse I would have viewed with pleasure was that of the producer, Pierre Strosser. The original humanistic drama (a king is bound by his vow, but unrighteousness deprives him of his kingship), with an ending which celebrates not only love but the delivery of a city from terror, is transformed into darkness, attitudinising and self-pity. Arbace is given his second aria (usually cut, along with the first), and during it "wills himself" to death in order to save his master's throne. Elettra ends her final aria with suicide and Idomeneo is later seen bending tenderly over her. Political issues disappear. Hans Graf's conducting, though lucid, matched the drama's misinterpretation with slow speeds and by muting the final joy. At the performance I saw (July 22) Philip Langridge replaced Anthony Rolfe Johnson and sang a powerful but rather husky Idomeneo. Honours lay rather with Jeanne Piland (Idamante), Sylvia Greenberg (Ilia) and Eliane Coelho (Elettra) plus a fine, unfamiliar baritone [sic], Marek Torzewski, as the unusually conspicuous and unusually young Arbace. Supposedly timeless and rather Japanese-y costumes (the work of the producer) did not enhance the action. The British choral ensemble called The Sixteen (they apparently numbered more than 20!) were strong participants ... though the fact that their altos are male somewhat unbalanced the Cretan population." =============== ACT 1: 0:00:00 — Overture 0:04:35 — "Quando avran fine omai" (Recitative) 0:08:51 — No. 1: "Padre, germani, addio!" (Aria) 0:15:27 — No. 2: "Non ho colpa, e mi condanni" (Aria) 0:23:03 — No. 3: "Godiam la pace, trionfi Amore" (Chorus) 0:30:21 — No. 4: "Tutte nel cor vi sento" (Aria) 0:33:55 — No. 5: "Pietà! Numi, pietà!" (Chorus) 0:38:17 — No. 6: "Vedrommi intorno l'ombra dolente" (Aria) 0:45:44 — No. 7: "Il padre adorato" (Aria) 0:48:48 — No. 9: "Nettuno s'onori" (Chorus) ACT 2: 0:52:43 — "Tutto m'è noto" (Recitative) 0:55:32 — No. 11: "Se il padre perdei" (Aria) 1:04:03 — No. 12: "Fuor del mar ho un mar in seno" (Aria) 1:12:04 — No. 13: "Idol mio, se ritroso" (Aria) 1:17:20 — No. 14: March 1:19:26 — No. 15: "Placido è il mar, andiamo" (Chorus) 1:23:54 — No. 16: "Pria di partir, oh Dio!" (Trio) 1:28:27 — No. 17: "Qual nuovo terrore!" (Chorus) 1:32:20 — No. 18: "Corriamo, fuggiamo" (Chorus) ACT 3: 1:34:19 — "Solitudini amiche" (Recitative) 1:35:22 — No. 19: "Zeffiretti lusinghieri" (Aria) 1:44:53 — No. 20a: "S'io non moro a questi accenti" (Duet) 1:50:32 — No. 21: "Andrò ramingo, e solo" (Quartet) 1:56:37 — "Sventurata Sidon!" (Recitative) 2:00:04 — No. 22: "Se colà ne' fati è scritto" (Aria) 2:08:10 — No. 23: "Volgi intorno lo sguardo" (Recitative) 2:12:53 — No. 24: "Oh voto tremendo!" (Chorus) 2:17:53 — No. 25: March 2:18:49 — No. 26: "Accogli, oh re del mar" (Cavatina and Chorus) 2:23:19 — No. 27: "Padre, mio caro padre" (Recitative) 2:32:34 — No. 28a: "Ha vinto Amore" (Recitative) 2:37:47 — No. 29a: "D'Oreste, d'Aiace" (Aria) 2:41:50 — No. 30: "Popoli, a voi l'ultima legge" (Recitative) 2:47:24 — No. 31: "Scenda Amor, scenda Imeneo" (Chorus) =============== "Idomeneo, re di Creta" ("Idomeneus, King of Crete") is an opera seria in three acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto by Giambattista Varesco. The libretto is based on an earlier libretto by Antoine Danchet, which was itself based on a play by Crébillion père. It was first performed at the Residenz Theatre in Munich on 29th January, 1781.