James Levine conducts a rare Met revival of Mozart’s Idomeneo, set in the aftermath of the Trojan War. Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s classic production, which has its first Met revival in over a decade this season, stars Matthew Polenzani in the title role. The cast also includes Elza van den Heever as Elettra, Nadine Sierra as Ilia, Alice Coote as Idamante, and Alan Opie as Arbace.

Idomeneo is Mozart’s first operatic masterpiece, which he completed when he was only 24. The composer invested all he had learned about the Italian opera-seria alongside his innovative ideas. He also took part in the writing of the text to make for even more drama and dynamic of the action. Inspired by ancient Greek mythology, the plot follows the story of Idomeneo, king of Crete, who was put on a heavy trial by the gods. Coming home after the Trojan wars his ships are caught in storm. To save himself and his people the king prays to Neptune and promises to sacrifice the first person he meets. It turns out that he meets his own son… Despite the opera’s initial success when it premiered in 1781 in Munich, it had fallen into oblivion for a long period afterwards. Recently it appears more and more often onto the world opera stages in original interpretations.

 Mozart’s first operatic masterpiece returns to the Met.