Idomeneo, re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante is an Italian language opera seria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The libretto was adapted by Giambattista Varesco from a French text by Antoine Danchet, based on a 1705 play by Crébillion père, which had been set to music by André Campra as Idoménée in 1712.

What is the story of Idomeneo?

“Idomeneo” by Mozart is based on material from ancient antiquity and tells the story of the king of Crete, Idomeneus. During his return from the Trojan War he gets into distress at sea. To survive, he vows to the god of oceans, Poseidon, to sacrifice the first man he encounters after his rescue.

What is the characteristics of Idomeneo?

While Idomeneo is certainly a serious story, it otherwise displays many more characteristics of the French tragédie lyrique, with its emphasis on spectacle, prominent music for the chorus, and integrated dance movements.