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A great lesser-known Mozart opera, 14 février 2006
The most popular of Mozart's operas range from 'The Marriage of Figaro' to 'The Magic Flute'; sometimes people will include 'The Abduction from the Seraglio' in that listing. Few extend the listing of great operas back to 'Idomeneo: King of Crete', but this is in many ways the logical starting point for observing Mozart's development as an opera composer.
As one scholar says, no two of Mozart's operas are alike -- while they share classifications and stylistic elements, they can each of them be considered sui generis in many respects. 'Idomeneo' was the first dramatic opera in Mozart's mature style; written while he was still in Salzberg, it attracted the attention of come in the musical court in Vienna. There are decidedly French qualities to 'Idomeneo', with influences apparent both in the composition and the anecdotal evidence from Mozart's contemporaries.
This particular piece includes a composite of most of Mozart's 1781 composition on 'Idomeneo', following a rediscovery of the original performance score. However, Mozart continued to edit the score, sometimes even in between performances one night from the next, so a 'standard' scoring is next to impossible to obtain on this opera.
The story is based on the ancient gods and goddesses, human frailty and foolishness, and, of course, love. Idomeneo makes a vow to sacrifice to the god Neptune should he be saved; he breaks his vow when it turns out his son will be the likely sacrifice. Meanwhile, Ilia, the daughter of Priam, king of the newly-destroyed city Troy, arrives as an already-tragic figure. Ilia falls for Idamante, son of Idomeneo, but is competing with the jealous Elettra, who does not wish there to be a Trojan queen of Crete. In the end, the gods will not be put off of their promised sacrifices, and while Idamante is saved, there is drama in unrequited love in several directions, and Idomeneo has to yield the throne in the end.
John Eliot Gardiner, conducting the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists out of Queen Elizabeth Hall in London (1990), is one of the masters of classical music in the past generation. Anthony Rolfe Johnson is the lead as Idomeneo; Anne Sofie Von Otter sings the part of the young son, Idamante, in a part that might have been a castrati part in the past. Sylvia McNair is Ilia, Hillevi Martinfelto is Elettra, and Nigel Robson rounds out the major parts as Arbace, the king's advisor.
This live recording is a technical masterpiece, a bit thin in some pieces, but overall rather satisfying. Anne Sofie von Otter probably has the best overall performance here, but the others do a nice job as a group. There aren't many arias or parts for individuals to use to make stand-out impressions (that fault, if indeed it constitutes a fault, is the composer rather than the performers), as many are accustomed to finding in Mozart operas. The English Baroque Soloists are an interesting touch, but a fuller orchestra and scoring might serve better here.
Still, this is an Archiv production of Deutsche Grammophon, one of the leading lights in classical music recording.
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3 internautes sur 3 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile
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une petite déception, 16 mars 2010
Il faut l'avouer: cet Idomeneo est quelque peu décevant. Les voix n'ont pas assez de force, d'intensité, d'expressivité, de couleur: on voudrait une Elettra plus féroce, une Ilia plus passionée ou plus tendre, un Idomeneo un petit plus roy et un petit moins incertain, un Arbace qui sache, tout simplement, chanter (l'intonation!). Bien sûr, l'orchestre et sourtout le choer sont bien preparés, et Gardiner est plus efficace dans le régistre terrible que dans le régistre élegiaque (dans ce cas, l'ennui est toujour proche...'). Les choix philologiques, qui nous donnent les variantes, sont appreciables et utiles, mais le fortepiano dans les recitativi est mince, presque inouible. Prise de son faible.
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