Mozart: Idomeneo Re di Creta

Idomeneo, Re di Creta ("Idomeneus, King of Crete"), written when Mozart was 24, was already his seventh opera. Although not nearly so well known today as several later works, it contains some fine music and has one of the richest orchestral scores of any.

The first performance took place in Munich on January 29, 1781 and was repeated on only two more nights. Mozart continued to believe in Idomeneo and revised it for a revival in Vienna in 1786. It still failed to catch on, and was seldom heard again until a 1951 production at Glyndebourne. Since then it has gradually achieved a respectable place in the repertory.

"This is a fabulous surprise. Who knew it existed? Jessye Norman sings as beautifully and meaningfully as she ever has (this was taped in '71)...all of her fans--and all opera lovers-should hear this. Heather Harper's Ilia is as good as any on disc--she's lovely and moving, and her tone and sincerity are right-on. The Idomeneo is Nicolai Gedda, here in his prime; he sings manfully and fluently throughout...Colin Davis was an early-ish champion of this work and his leadership is ideal; the RAI Orchestra and Chorus are very good." - Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com