The Metropolitan Opera’s 2025-26 season of Saturday matinee broadcasts continues on February 14 — Valentine’s Day — with an Artist's Choice from Joyce DiDonato, which she selected in honor of the beloved American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade: Mozart’s "Idomeneo."
In this Met performance from 1986, tenor David Rendall sings the title role of the King of Crete, who is burdened by a desperate vow he made to the gods, and Frederica von Stade is his son, the brave and passionate prince Idamante. The cast also features Benita Valente as the Trojan princess Ilia, Hildegard Behrens as the jealous Elettra and John Alexander as the counselor Arbace. Maestro Jeffrey Tate leads the Met Orchestra and Chorus in this uplifting work by the young Mozart.
Listen to the broadcast of "Idomeneo" on Classical IPR at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
Read the synopsis from the Metropolitan Opera.
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto: Giambattista Varesco
CAST
Idomeneo: David Rendall
Idamante: Frederica von Stade
Ilia: Benita Valente
Elettra: Hildegard Behrens
Arbace: John Alexander
