Composer

:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

Jan 18, 1781

Average_duration

:

26:44

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Idomeneo, K. 367 is an opera seria composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1781. The opera premiered on January 29, 1781, at the Cuvilliés Theatre in Munich, Germany. The libretto was written by Giambattista Varesco, based on a French play by Antoine Danchet. The opera is divided into three acts and features a total of 13 musical numbers. The first act includes six numbers, the second act includes four numbers, and the third act includes three numbers. The opera is known for its complex vocal writing, intricate orchestration, and dramatic plot. The first act opens with a storm at sea, where the ship carrying Idomeneo, the king of Crete, and his son Idamante, is caught in a tempest. The ship is eventually wrecked, and Idomeneo is saved by the god Neptune. In return for his life, Idomeneo promises to sacrifice the first person he sees upon his return to Crete. The second act focuses on the love triangle between Idamante, the Trojan princess Ilia, and the Cretan princess Elettra. Idamante is in love with Ilia, but Elettra is in love with him. The act ends with Idomeneo revealing that the person he must sacrifice is his own son, Idamante. The third act features the sacrifice of Idamante, but at the last moment, the god Neptune intervenes and saves him. Idomeneo is then struck by lightning and dies, and Idamante is crowned king of Crete. The music of Idomeneo, K. 367 is characterized by its use of complex vocal lines, intricate orchestration, and dramatic tension. The opera features a variety of musical styles, including arias, duets, and choruses. The vocal writing is particularly challenging, with many of the arias requiring a high level of technical skill and emotional depth. Overall, Idomeneo, K. 367 is considered one of Mozart's greatest operas, and it remains a popular work in the operatic repertoire. Its complex plot, intricate music, and dramatic tension continue to captivate audiences today.

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