Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born January 27, 1756 in Salzburg. He died on December 5, 1791 in Vienna. His Italian opera seria, Idomeneo, re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante, was composed in 1780 and received its premiere in Munich’s Cuvilliés Theater on January 29, 1781. The “K” number used for Mozart’s works refers to the name Ludwig Ritter von Köchel, who first issued the Chronological-Thematic Catalogue of the Complete Works of Wolfgang Amadé Mozart in 1862. The Köchel catalogue has been updated and revised several times. The Ballet music from of Idomeneo, is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, and strings.

The two kinds of opera in the Italian language in the 18th century were comic (opera buffa) or serious (opera seria). The subject matter of the latter genre told stories derived from either mythological or historical sources. Mozart’s opera, Idomeneo, sets a libretto by Giambattista Vareco that was derived from a French text by Antoine Danchet, which itself is based on the 1705 play Idoménée by Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon père.

The influence of the Christoph Willibald Gluck, an important composer of both French and Italian opera, is palpable in Mozart’s opera. Although Mozart’s Idomeneo is in Italian, its French roots suggested the inclusion of ballet, that had been an essential element for operas in France from the court of Louis XIV. Of the seven segments of ballet music for his opera, tonight’s performance will present two: Chaconne (Allegro) and Pas de seul de Mr le Grand. The first number actually begins with a quotation of music from Gluck's ballet, Iphigénie en Aulide, before moving on in varied sections. The Pas de seul is a festive affair, demonstrating Mozart’s gift at the peak of his powers.

Program Note by David B. Levy, ©2025