Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #67005 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-04-11
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: German, English, French, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 185 minutes

Customer Reviews

Mozart's Grand Opera is a superb show
Following Mozart's final youthful opera, Il re pastore, which was composed in 1775 (see the fine new DVD performance from Salzburg conducted by Neville Marriner), Mozart received no new operatic commissions (other than the fragment Zaide) until 1780-81. He spent those 5 years internalising all of European music, always yearning to write opera, always searching for a good libretto and a new commission. Idomeneo was finally commissioned for Munich by Karl Theodor, Elector of Bavaria, and premiered in Munich in 1781. Although theoretically an example of opera seria, Idomeneo should more properly be considered embryonic Grand Opera. There is something Verdian about this great dramatic masterpiece. Idomeneo is a true tragic hero: literally buffeted by fate in a sea-storm, he is placed in the untenable position of saving himself by promising Neptune he would sacrifice the first living creature he met upon returning home to Crete. He has a chance meeting with Idamante, who has been roaming the shore. Idomeneo, less than thrilled by this random encounter, reacts even more coolly after recognizing his son, now grown. Idamante, dismayed by his father's puzzling lack of affection, is also beset by amorous issues: he is loved by the proud princess Electra, but he is in love with a Trojan princess, Ilia, who rejects him. Ilia was sent to Crete, along with other prisoners of war, by Idomeneo in advance of his return from Troy. Neptune's impatience for a sacrifice, the intricacies of love and ambition, the nature of power and fate, all make up the fabric of Mozart's Grand Opera. It is unquestionably a masterpiece.

This makes Idomeneo's subsequent performance history particularly puzzling. It was revived only once in Mozart's lifetime, was performed fairly frequently in Austria and Germany following his death, but did not reach England until 1934 and still was not performed professionally until Glyndebourne in 1951. It was first produced in America in 1947 at the Berkshire Music Festival at Tanglewood, in Lenox Massachusetts. Most stunningly of all, Idomeneo's very first performance at the Met did not occur until 14 October 1982: this very production! The seventh performance, given on 6 November, is the one filmed here.

Mozart's use of a chorus is years ahead of its time: dramatic without being declamatory, he gave his people of Crete some of the most beautiful melodies he had composed this early in his operatic career. Of special note is the exquisite embarkation chorus, Placido e il mar. One of the features that makes this production so superb is the excellence of the Met's chorus. But that is merely one of many reasons why this DVD is a recommended purchase for confirmed Mozarteans as well as lovers of great singing and drama. Each major member of this star-laden cast was essentially captured at their peak. The casting was inspired, so by a happy accident we have a nearly perfect recording of the first of the 7 great mature operas from Mozart's "golden decade".

Luciano Pavarotti is simply superb as Idomeneo. Everything that made him a truly great singer in his prime is in evidence here. His tone is crystalline, his Italianate phrasing is perfection as is his uncannily clear diction. Each word, sung or spoken, rings with pristine clarity, like a bell. His acting (not his usual strong suit), as a deeply troubled yet ultimately resolute Idomeneo, is as fine as I've ever seen Pavarotti act. He is obviously enjoying this part: he sang Idamante in his 1964 debut at Glyndebourne. If you've ever wondered why he became a star, it is firmly in evidence here. Frederica von Stade is a wonderful Idamante, a role originally written for a soprano castrato. She is utterly believable and her singing is excellent. Ileana Cotrubas is an inspired Ilia, mingling pathos and passion in her singing as well as acting. Hildegard Behrens is a knock-out Electra. She is a more Straussian Electra than Mozartian in her increasing madness. The rest of the cast is similarly excellent. There are no seriously weak links in this cast. James Levine and the Met Orchestra are superb, as they usually were at this time. The simple yet elegant production was designed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle. This is an inspired performance of Idomeneo. One that truly merits your serious attention.

The picture format of this two DVD set is NTSC full screen shot with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The picture is digitally remastered and clear with no visual artifacts and only slight fuzziness due to the age of the tape. The region code is 0 worldwide. Menu language is English with subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish and Chinese. Sound formats are PCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 Digital Surround. The sound is clear and bright with the DTS format providing great ambiance from the rear speakers, and a clarity and spatial localization of voices and instruments that imparts a feeling of "liveness" to the performance. Bonuses include a picture gallery and trailers from DGG. Total time of the discs is 182 minutes.

A superb performance of a Mozart masterpiece. A life enhancing DVD set that is strongly recommended.

Mike Birman

A wonderful production..a shame this is not available in DVD
This is an excellent video recording of a ravishing Metropolitan Opera production from 1982. All the major components of a great success are here. Fine conducting as ever from James Levine, the always excellent orchestra and chorus of the Met, stunning sets, costumes, lighting and production, and five defining performances from the lead singers. The bouquets really must go to the ladies, all three of them in their prime, singing marvellously well and looking quite delightful. The beautifully sung and exquisitly realised Ilia of Ileana Cotrubas is breathtakingly lovely. Every phrase seems suffused with meaning, every note with lyrical beauty. What an advantage to have a Trojan Princess of such physical grace and beauty when paired with the splendidly sung and incredibly handsome Idamante of Frederica von Stade. The two lovers duet with utter beauty and conviction providing a wonderful example of real Mozartian singing at its best. Hildegard Behrens completes the trio, an inspired piece of casting this. She looks and sounds quite (rightly) bonkers, and her awesome stage prescence, vocal power and dramatic intensity bring this lovelorn daughter of Agamemnon to intense and exciting life. John Alexander sings the hideously difficult part of Arbace with great skill and beauty and, surprisingly to me, Luciano Pavarotti sings the title role really very well. I had not considered him a natural Mozartian before, and I was charmed with his restrained and careful performance. I can't understand why this performance is not available on DVD as I gather this recording is one of the Met's biggest sellers. I live in hope.

Mozart's first operatic miracle
Odd that this excellent release has not received a singlereview so far. Idomeneo is Mozart's first master opera, the first ofseven "operatic miracles" that he composed in the lastdecade of his life. His early contributions to the genre are alsoextraordinary works: Il Re Pastore, Mitridate, La Finta Giardinieraetc. But it is generally agreed that with Idomeneo he reached hismaturity as an opera composer. It is a powerful, dense, very dramaticwork with beautiful arias. And this is a very good rendition of thismasterwork. I liked the set and staging and the arias are beautifullysung. The opera is sung in the original Italian with Englishsubtitles and the synopsis provided comes in handy to understand theplot. I always thought that James Levine definitely understandsMozart: the arias and recitatives are never too fast, the way I thinkMozart should be played, which enhances the dramatic element and thebeauty of those arias of supreme inspiration. Ok, so I tried to fillthe gap....