, 1986 Jeffrey Tate; David Rendall (idomeneo), Benita Valente (ilia), Frederica

Idomeneo, King of Crete, returns from the Trojan War after making a vow to Neptune: he will sacrifice the first person he encounters if the god grants him safe passage home. That person proves to be his own son, Idamante. Torn between paternal love and religious obligation, Idomeneo struggles with his impossible promise while his son and the Trojan princess Ilia navigate their own passionate devotion to each other. The king's confidant Arbace and the warrior Electra—herself consumed by jealous rage—complicate the emotional landscape. As divine and human forces collide, the characters confront questions of duty, sacrifice, and redemption. Neptune ultimately intervenes, offering a merciful resolution that allows love and honor to coexist, transforming tragedy into transcendence.