The action has moved to Idomeneo’s palace where he is trying to get a grip on things. Obviously he doesn’t want to sacrifice his son but Neptune is going to be mightily miffed if the king doesn’t.  His friend Arbace has a cunning plan.  He suggests Idomeneo sends Idamante into exile and sacrifices someone else instead.  They agree to pack Idamante off with Elettra, he can  help her get back to Argos to take up the throne.  Arbace sings an aria (because otherwise how do you get a tenor to accept the role?), swearing his allegiance to Idomeneo.

Here’s a rather magical rendition by Rainer Trost, whose worth watching just for his amazing ability to sing with his eyes…

(the aria starts about 1:46)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev5ufF-hscc

In comes Ilia.  Idomeneo is quite nice to her and she decides that being Cretan isn’t so bad and despite all the Act One soul searching tells Idomeneo she will make Crete a new home because both he and his son have been very good to her.  Idomeneo realises that banishing Idamante will leave her as upset as he is.

The only person feeling pretty good about the new state of play is Elettra who is looking forward to a nice cruise with Idamante.  She’s pretty chuffed and tells Idamante not to worry, if he is forced to marry her she has all the ways and means to make him love her – this, of course, cheers him up about as much as telling Alex Salmond he came a respectable second in the referendum.

Beautifully sung here by Anja Harteros (who might make you wonder what it is he’s moping about!)

A big party has gathered at the sea front to wish them buon voyage. Idomeneo again rejects his son’s entreaties.  Then, just as everyone is commenting on how calm the sea is a big old monster turns up, Idomeneo tells everyone it’s all his fault, and they all run away crying we run, we run, we fly, we fly…(corriamo, fuggiamo).  Poor old Elettra’s plans are scuppered once more.

It’s really rather fantastic “run away from the monster” music.