Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus: Idomeneo (historic recording)

Idomeneo  by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Cast: Waldemar Kmentt, Ernst Haefliger, Pilar Lorengar, Elisabeth Grümmer, Renato Capecchi, Eberhard Waechter, Georg Littasy, Irmgard Stadler, Margret Nessel, Kurt Equiluz & Robert Kernswith the VIenna State Opera Chorus and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ferenc Fricsay.
Libretto by Giambattista Varesco
Label: Melodram
Catalogue number: MEL 701
Country of Issue: Italy
Live recording
Date: 1981 (recorded 1961)
Mono
Analogue
Format: LP Boxed Set (3 discs plus booklet)
Label design: 2nd style Melodram, cream/grey
Discs: Near Mint, unmarked
Outer box: Excellent,  shelf scuff on front bottom edge, slight mottling of box back, otherwise very fine
Inner sleeves: original, polylined, as new
Booklet: full size 8pp, near mint,  only contains libretto in Italian

This item appears as new throughout except as mentioned above. Acquired by us in 2007 as part of a large collection but never played since.

The work, whose full title is Idomeneo, re di Creta ossia Ilia e Idamante, was first performed on 29 January 1781 in Munich, Germany. The style of the choruses, marches, and ballets is very French, and Mozart (as was the French tradition) included a 15-minute ballet sequence.  It has become part of the regular repertoire, and this classic recording is of the new production at the Salzburg Festival,  recorded at the performance on 26 July 1961.