“Idomeneo” may be the greatest Mozart opera you’ve never seen.
Set just after the Trojan War, it centers on the King of Crete, who unwittingly makes a deal with Neptune to sacrifice his own son. Filled with sea storms, passion, and palace intrigue, it’s an ambitious, grandly scaled work, one that isn’t performed nearly often enough — which is why Opera San Jose’s impressive 2011 production was such a thrilling experience.
Directed by Brad Dalton and conducted by the late George Cleve, founder of the Bay Area-based Midsummer Mozart Festival, this “Idomeneo” boasted 73 singers, a 41-member chorus, and choreography by Dennis Nahat performed by members of Ballet San Jose. The cast included tenors Christopher Bengochea in the title role and Aaron Blake as Idamante, and sopranos Rebecca Davis as Ilia and Christina Major as Elettra.
The production earned rave reviews, and now opera lovers can see it again. In lieu of the company’s season-ending production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic rules, general director Khori Dastoor has made the decision to stream “Idomeneo” in its entirety.
Details: Streaming production “opens” April 18 and will be available online until May 18; free; www.operasj.org.
