Dido and Aeneas

Dido and Aeneas is an opera with music written by Henry Purcell and the story (the libretto) by Nahum Tate. It is known very little about the circumstances of its production. However, it is often said that Purcell probably composed it between 1684-1685 but the first known performance was not until 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. It is based on the fourth book of Virgil’s Aeneis (between 29 and 19 BC). The opera is rather short with a running time of circa one hour.

Synopsis

Background:

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 but still 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, 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.

Songs:

1. Shake the cloud from off your brow - Belinda

2. Ah! Belinda, I am press’d with torment - Dido

3. Grief increases by concealing … - Belinda

4. When monarchs unite, how happy their state - Chorus

5. Whence could so much virtue spring - Dido

6. Fear no danger to ensue- Belinda, Second Woman

7. See, Your Royal Guest appears - Belinda

8. Cupid only throws the dart - Chorus

9. If not for mine, for empire’s sake - Aeneas

10. Pursue thy Conquest, Love - Belinda

11. To the hills and the vales - Chorus

12. The Triumphing Dance

Act II.

A sorceress and two witches plan to destroy Dido’s happiness by sending Aeneas away. Meanwhile, the Queen, Aeneas and their entourage go on a hunting trip. Due to a storm, 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.

Songs:

1. Prelude for the Witches

2. Wayward sisters, you that fright - Sorceress, First Witch

3. Harm's our delight and mischief all our skill - Chorus

4. The Queen of Carthage, whom we hate - Sorceress

5. Ho, Ho, Ho - Chorus

6. But ere we this perform - Two Witches

7. In our deep vaulted cell - Chorus

8. Echo Dance of Furies

9. Ritornello

10. Thanks to these lonesome vales - Belinda

11. Oft she visits this lov’d mountain - Second Woman

12. Behold, upon my bending spear - Aeneas

13. Haste, haste to town - Belinda

14. Stay, Prince and hear great Jove's command - Spirit

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 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). As soon as Aeneas ship is out of sight, Dido commits suicide by throwing herself on a pyre

Songs:

1. Prelude for the sailors

2. Come away, fellow sailors - Chorus

3. The Sailor’s dance

4. See the flags and streamers curling – Sorceress, Witches

5. Our next motion - Sorceress

6. Destruction's our delight - Chorus

7. The Witches' Dance

8. Your counsel all is urg’d in vain - Dido

9. Great minds against themselves conspire - Chorus

10. They hand, Belinda - Dido

11. When I am laid in earth - Dido

12. With dropping wings ye Cupids, come - Chorus

Sources

• Boyden, Matthew.The Rough Guide to Opera.London:Rough Guides Ltd.2002.
• http://www.mh-koeln.de/musik/dido-libr.pdf
• http://www.harmetz.com/soprano/synopsis/didoandaeneas.htm
• Walking, Andrew R. Political Allegory in Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas'