Idomeneo
Elletra
Elletra is passionate, enraged, jealous, vengeful and selfish. Her dramatic appearance reflects her anger at her unrequited love of Idamante.
Mozart uses sharp accents and pitiless coloraturas to describe a desperate and unhappy woman willing to do anything to achieve her aims. Her arias are fiery Allegro agitato – restless, agitated and impetuous. They provide the strongest possible dramatic contrast to those of her adversary Ilia.
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Ilia
Ilia, Elletra’s adversary, is a strong and resolute character. She is magnanimous, self-sacrificing and gentle.
Ilia is the first character to appear in Idomeneo. She remains lyrical, even in the coloraturas. In the recitative she has a pleasant melody with precise accompaniment. From the start she conveys humility and musical melancholy.