Gramophone Magazine
Awards Issue 2025
Editor's Choice

Andrew Staples (Idomeneo), Magdalena Kožená (Idamante), Sabine Devieilhe (Ilia), Elsa Dreisig (Elettra), Linard Vrielink (Arbace), Allan Clayton (High Priest of Neptune), Tareq Nazmi (Voice of the Oracle)

Symphonieorchester und Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Sir Simon Rattle

A storm rages off the island of Crete, forcing King Idomeneo, who is returning from the Trojan War, to make a fateful vow to Neptune. If the enraged sea god allows him to reach the island safely, he promises that he will sacrifice the first person he meets to him. Once on the beach, Idomeneo is met by his son, Idamante - of all people- and the merciless and irreconcilable world of the gods seems intent on ensuring that the promise is fulfilled...

The storm that Mozart's music conjures up so vividly also rages within the opera’s characters. The father and son, as well as the two foreign princesses Ilia and Elettra, who are hoping for better times after a traumatic war, all find themselves at the mercy of powerful emotions as well as the forces of nature.

Mozart's "dramma per musica" Idomeneo (1781) completely revitalised the opera seria genre, which had been considered outmoded, and was the first of his mature operas. Commissioned for the excellent ensemble of the Munich Residenztheater, the work allowed Mozart to draw on unlimited musical resources. With his most extensive and ambitious work to date, he was also hoping to find a new position and leave Salzburg. This did not materialise, unfortunately, but his ambition resulted in an extraordinary stage work – complete with challenging arias, well-developed characters, a virtuoso orchestral score, and several large choral scenes that are among the most impressive in Mozart's oeuvre.

Idomeneo has long been one of Sir Simon Rattle's favourite pieces, and with good reason. In the autumn of 2023, shortly after taking up his position as the new Chief Conductor of the Chor and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mozart's first great opera gave Simon Rattle the opportunity to work closely with both ensembles and further his interest in historical performance practice in Munich. First-class singers supported him: British tenor Andrew Staples in the demanding title role, soprano Sabine Devieilhe and mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená as the tender lovers Ilia and Idamante, and soprano Elsa Dreisig as the jealous and desperate Elettra. Other soloists and choral soloists also performed. Howard Arman directs the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, and Simon Rattle conducts the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.

The live recording, presented by BR-KLASSIK on a total of three CDs, was made in connection with the concert performances on December 16, 17 and 19, 2023 in the Herkulessaal of the Munich Residenz.

"Despite controversial moments, Rattle is every bit Gardiner's equal in theatrical energy, and arguably fields the strongest all-round cast in any recording of Mozart's ever-astonishing Enlightenment parable." - Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2025