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Wonderful opera first performed 1688-ish. Music by [[Henry Purcell]] and lyrics probably by [[Nahum Tate]].  
One of the first operas in English. Music written by [[Henry Purcell]], libretto by [[Nahum Tate]]. First known performance 1689 at a girls’ school in Chelsea.  


The three-act opera tells the story of Dido, Queen of Cartharge, and the Trojan prince Aeneas who fall in love but are not meant to be, because duty calls Aeneas back on the road (or rather: on the ship). His mythical mission: the foundation of Rome. The story is based on the fourth book of Virgil’s ''Aeneid'' (between 29 and 19 BC).


[[Category:Expansion]]
 
== Synopsis ==
 
The story is set in Cartharge after Aeneas has escaped from Troy with a group of fellow survivors of the Trojan War. Queen Dido just lost her husband and falls in love with Aeneas when she first lays eyes on him. Torn between her grief and her newfound love, she desperately tries to cope with the situation.
 
'''Act I'''
 
Dido is desperately in love with Aeneas but cannot bring herself to admit it to herself and to tell him about her feelings. Belinda, her confidante (definitely a non-mythical character), tries to cheer her up and encourages her to talk to Aeneas. Belinda also and suggests a marriage for the sake of the Queen’s happiness. When Aeneas declares his love for Dido, the two of them agree to get married.
 
'''Act II'''
 
A sorceress and two witches plan to destroy Dido’s happiness by sending Aeneas away (lovely chorus featuring witchlike laughter).
Meanwhile, the Queen, Aeneas and their entourage go on a hunting trip. Due to a storm (occasion for dramatic sound effects), which was conjured by the witches, they have to split up. Aeneas seeks shelter in a cave where he meets a spirit who tells him to leave Cartharge and go to Italy to fulfil his duty as a prince of Troy. Aeneas, who thinks the spirit is Mercury, agrees immediately and decides to leave, although he does not know how to tell Dido.
 
'''Act III'''
 
Aeneas’ men prepare the ships to leave Cartharge. The sorceress and the witches are joyful and celebrate their success.
Dido finds out about Aeneas's departure and is heartbroken. When Aeneas decides to ignore the god’s wishes and stay with Dido, she pushes him away. Still disappointed by his first decision to abandon her, she tells him to leave Cartharge for good.
Dido sings her last song (Dido’s Lament, one of the most famous dying arias). As soon as Aeneas's ship is out of sight, Dido commits suicide by throwing herself on a pyre
 
== Sources ==
 
* Boyden, Matthew.''The Rough Guide to Opera''. London: Rough Guides, 2002.
* http://www.mh-koeln.de/musik/dido-libr.pdf '''[please format online sources according to stylesheet of the English Department]'''
* http://www.harmetz.com/soprano/synopsis/didoandaeneas.htm
* [http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/737468?searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Ddido%2Band%2Baeneas%26filter%3Diid%253A10.2307%252Fi229419%26Search%3DSearch%26wc%3Don&Search=yes&searchText=dido&searchText=aeneas&uid=3737864&uid=2129&uid=2134&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21102322176191
 
Walking, Andrew R. ''Political Allegory in Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas'': '''full bibliographical information??'''

Latest revision as of 20:46, 10 July 2013

One of the first operas in English. Music written by Henry Purcell, libretto by Nahum Tate. First known performance 1689 at a girls’ school in Chelsea.

The three-act opera tells the story of Dido, Queen of Cartharge, and the Trojan prince Aeneas who fall in love but are not meant to be, because duty calls Aeneas back on the road (or rather: on the ship). His mythical mission: the foundation of Rome. The story is based on the fourth book of Virgil’s Aeneid (between 29 and 19 BC).


Synopsis

The story is set in Cartharge after Aeneas has escaped from Troy with a group of fellow survivors of the Trojan War. Queen Dido just lost her husband and falls in love with Aeneas when she first lays eyes on him. Torn between her grief and her newfound love, she desperately tries to cope with the situation.

Act I

Dido is desperately in love with Aeneas but cannot bring herself to admit it to herself and to tell him about her feelings. Belinda, her confidante (definitely a non-mythical character), tries to cheer her up and encourages her to talk to Aeneas. Belinda also and suggests a marriage for the sake of the Queen’s happiness. When Aeneas declares his love for Dido, the two of them agree to get married.

Act II

A sorceress and two witches plan to destroy Dido’s happiness by sending Aeneas away (lovely chorus featuring witchlike laughter). Meanwhile, the Queen, Aeneas and their entourage go on a hunting trip. Due to a storm (occasion for dramatic sound effects), which was conjured by the witches, they have to split up. Aeneas seeks shelter in a cave where he meets a spirit who tells him to leave Cartharge and go to Italy to fulfil his duty as a prince of Troy. Aeneas, who thinks the spirit is Mercury, agrees immediately and decides to leave, although he does not know how to tell Dido.

Act III

Aeneas’ men prepare the ships to leave Cartharge. The sorceress and the witches are joyful and celebrate their success. Dido finds out about Aeneas's departure and is heartbroken. When Aeneas decides to ignore the god’s wishes and stay with Dido, she pushes him away. Still disappointed by his first decision to abandon her, she tells him to leave Cartharge for good. Dido sings her last song (Dido’s Lament, one of the most famous dying arias). As soon as Aeneas's ship is out of sight, Dido commits suicide by throwing herself on a pyre

Sources

Walking, Andrew R. Political Allegory in Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas: full bibliographical information??

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