Idomeneo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The opera is set in Crete, in the aftermath of the Trojan war. Idomeneo, the King of Crete, has fought at Troy and sent home amongst his spoils of war, Ilia, a Trojan princess. Princes Idamantes, ruling Crete as regent in his father’s absence, and Ilia are in love. The Greek princess, Elektra, is also in Crete and she, too, loves Idamantes.

Returning from Troy, Idomeneo is caught in a storm. He makes a pact with Neptune to save his life. In return for sparing him and his comrades, Idomeneo will sacrifice the first person he sees on making landfall. Tragically, this is his son, Idamantes.

Idomeneo keeps his pledge secret and tries to save Idamantes by sending him away to Argos with Elektra. As Elektra and Idamantes prepare to set sail for Argos, the Cretans wish for a calm sea and gentle breezes for their journey. Elektra sees this as her chance to win Idamantes’ love.

As punishment for the king’s broken promise, Neptune sends a sea monster to ravage Crete and Idomeneo is forced to reveal the reason why. Idamantes kills the monster but offers himself as a sacrifice to fulfil his father’s vow to Neptune. Ilia is willing to die in his place. Neptune intervenes to spare Idamantes on the condition that Idomeneo abdicate. Idamantes and Ilia become rulers of Crete. Elektra is left in despair at losing her love.