Henry Purcell Opera Dido and Aeneas
English Three-Act Tragic Drama Based on Virgil's Aeneid
Aug 1, 2008
Henry Purcell (c. 1659 – November 21, 1695) composed Dido and Aeneas, a three-act English tragedy opera. The libretto was written by Nahum Tate in English, based on the Aeneid of Virgil. It was premiered in London, at Josias Priest's School for Young Gentlewomen, on December 1689. The setting is in Carthage after the Trojan War.
Notable aria: "When I am laid in earth." (Dido)
Dido and Aeneas is based on a story from the fourth book of Virgil's Aeneid, of the legendary Queen of Carthage Dido and the Trojan refugee Aeneas. When Æneas and his crew are shipwrecked in Carthage, he and the queen fall in love. However, Æneas must soon leave to found Rome. Dido cannot live without him and awaits death.
Of concern in this Dido and Aeneas, is that no score was extant in the hands of English composer Henry Purcell, and the only 17th century source is a libretto, possibly from the original performance. No later sources follow the same act divisions of the libretto, and the music to the prologue is lost. It should also be noted that Henry Purcell's scores were either lost or neglected for almost two centuries before it was finally rediscovered in the early 1900s.
However, Dido and Aeneas is considered a monumental work in the Baroque opera. As one of Purcell's foremost operatic works, perhaps it is his only true opera, as compared to his other musical dramatic works, for instance, The Fairy Queen, performed few years later, in 1692.
Character Roles of Dido and Aeneas
- Belinda (soprano)
- Dido (soprano)
- Aeneas (tenor or high baritone)
- Sorceress (mezzo)
- Second woman/Venus (mezzo)
- First witch/First woman (soprano)
- Second witch (soprano)
Plot Summary / Synopses of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas
Prologue
Over the sea. The dance of the Tritons, nymphs and shepherds. The sphepherds, shepherdesses and nymphs welcome love and celebrate spring with joy.
Act 1. At the Palace
Dance of Dido's Attendants
Dido's confidante, Belinda, and her ladies-in-waiting assure her Aeneas loves her in return.
Act 2. At the Cave
Dance of sailors, enchantresses and fairies. Dance of Dido's attendants to entertain.
A sorceress, jealous of Dido, plans to trick Aeneas into deserting Dido. The sorceress plans up a storm. Appearing to Aeneas in the likeness of Mercury, she orders him to sail for Italy instead.
Act 3. The Ships
Dance of sailors and enchantresses. Dance of Cupid.
The sorceress and her cohorts dance in triumph as they watch Aeneas prepare to depart. Aeneas offers to stay, but Dido sends him away. Hopeless, she surrenders to death.
Sources:
Concise Guide to Opera, Penguin, London, 2005
Opera by Alan Riding and L.D. Downer, DK, 2006
The Da Capo Opera Manual by Nicholas Ivor Martin, 1997
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