This unique recording, however valuable you eventually decide the undertaking, should be heard by all opera lovers. In 1927, opera intendant Lothar Wallerstein took over the post in Vienna, bringing the splendid conductor Clemens Krauss with him. At the time, Mozart’s Idomeneo had lain dormant for some time and the two men decided that in its original format–opera seria–it wouldn’t work with the public. So they brought Richard Strauss in to “update” it.
Using a newly-worked libretto (in German) by Wallerstein, Strauss eliminated all dry recitatives and replaced them with orchestral parts, occasionally recomposing the melodies wholesale. The work’s parts are re-arranged and a great deal is cut (precisely how much is hard to tell–Dynamic does not let us know if theirs is a complete performance and I could find no further information). The character of Elettra is replaced with the High Priestess Ismene, although much of her music and all of her temperament remain (perhaps Strauss had had quite enough with characters named Elektra). Just how far he will eventually go is hinted at about 15 minutes into the opera: when Idamantes (here re-cast as a soprano, by the way) refers to Helen of Troy, Strauss quotes his own opera. The alterations and additions are interesting and relatively Mozartean until an “instrumental interlude” in Act 2 that is pure Strauss–and there’s a five-minute ensemble placed right before Mozart’s final (truncated) chorus that sounds like Die Frau ohne Schatten. It’s pretty far out, but undeniably interesting.
This performance is good enough, with Dario Schmunck impressing in the title role; he sings an “easier” version of “Fuor del mar” respectably and exclaims well elsewhere. The three women have highly distinguishable voices, with Cinzia Forte’s Ilia properly girlish, Francesca Scaini’s Ismene nicely shrewish, and Sofia Soloviy a strong Idamantes. There are no star turns but the ensemble work and Corrado Rovaris’ leadership are praiseworthy. Mozarteans may be able to do without this but Straussians should not. I’d love to know more about it.
