{"id":12280,"date":"2014-05-29T22:00:46","date_gmt":"2014-05-29T22:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eoisabi.org\/?p=12280"},"modified":"2021-11-13T23:25:58","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T23:25:58","slug":"dido-aeneas-h-purcell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/englishroam.com\/?p=12280","title":{"rendered":"Dido & Aeneas [H Purcell]"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Dido and Aeneas<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0is an\u00a0opera\u00a0in a prologue and three acts, written by the English\u00a0Baroque\u00a0composer\u00a0Henry Purcell<\/a>\u00a0with a libretto by\u00a0Nahum Tate. The first known performance was at\u00a0Josias Priest’s girls’ school in London no later than the summer of 1688.<\/p>\n

The story is based on Book IV of\u00a0Virgil’s\u00a0Aeneid<\/em>.\u00a0It recounts the love of\u00a0Dido<\/strong>, Queen of Carthage, for the\u00a0Trojan\u00a0hero\u00a0Aeneas<\/strong>, and her despair when he abandons her. A monumental work in Baroque opera,\u00a0Dido and Aeneas<\/em>\u00a0is remembered as one of Purcell’s foremost theatrical works.\u00a0It was also Purcell’s first opera, as well as his only all-sung dramatic work.<\/p>\n\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0CHARACTERS<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dido, Queen of Carthage<\/td>\nsoprano<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aeneas, a Trojan prince<\/td>\nbaritone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Belinda, Dido’s confidante<\/td>\nsoprano<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sorceress<\/td>\nmezzo-soprano or baritone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Spirit, in the form of Mercury<\/td>\nsoprano<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sailor<\/td>\nsoprano or baritone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
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Dido, the widowed Queen of Carthage, entertains the Trojan Prince Aeneas, shipwrecked on his way to Italy, where he will found a new Troy. Dido and Aeneas are in love. Witches plot Dido\u2019s destruction and the Sorceress conjures a storm, to break out when the royal couple are hunting, and the impersonation of Mercury by one of her coven. The storm duly breaks and the courtiers hasten back to town, while the false Mercury tells Aeneas he must leave Dido and sail for Italy. Aeneas and his sailors prepare to leave, to the delight of the witches. Aeneas parts from Dido, who kills herself once he has gone, her death lamented by mourning cupids.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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SYNOPSIS:<\/h5>\n

Set in Carthage at the court of Queen Dido, in mythical time period.<\/p>\n

Scene I, Dido’s Palace<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dido, Queen of Carthage, is brooding in her palace. Belinda suggests her brooding may be due to her love for the Trojan prince Aeneas. Belinda intimates that Aeneas already loves her. Belinda suggests that a union between them both would bring Dido the happiness she deserves and will glorify Carthage.<\/p>\n

Scene II, Dido’s Palace<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aeneas, who has just arrived in Carthage after fleeing from Troy following defeat in the Trojan War,\u00a0enters and proclaims his devotion for Dido. Dido accepts his love and the courtiers celebrate.<\/p>\n

Scene III, The Witches’ cave<\/strong><\/p>\n

A sorceress with the aid of some witches conspire for Aeneas’ departure, Dido’s ruination and the destruction of Carthage. Meanwhile, the lovers are embarked upon a hunt as a symbol of courtship.<\/p>\n

Scene IV, The Grove<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the hunting party pauses Belinda, and an accompanying woman, sing of the locations delight. Thunder is heard in the distance. The witches have conjured a storm to bring an end to the lovers hunting party. Dido, who has fully given her love to Aeneas returns safely to the palace. In the storm, the spirit of the sorceress appears before Aeneas, disguised as Mercury and reminds him he must leave and continue his quest as he is fated to be the founder of a new Troy and the Roman Empire. Aeneas laments his fate.<\/p>\n

Scene V, Harbor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aeneas’ men are driven to their ships by the witches and the sailors jovially make ready to leave. The Sorceress and the witches dance to their success.<\/p>\n

Scene VI, Dido’s death<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dido fears that Aeneas will abandon her. Aeneas, torn, seeks to defy the gods and stay. Dido is angered and forces him to leave: She will not endure a lover who has entertained leaving her. Belinda fails to appease Dido’s grief and Dido plans her own suicide. As Aeneas ship disappears, Dido throws herself on her funeral pyre.<\/p>\n

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\u25ca\u00a0\u00a0 from Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti, Modena (Italy)\u00a0 \u2193\u00a0 <\/strong>[2020]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n