Dido and Aeneas is a short, three act opera from the 1680s by English composer Henry Purcell. La Follia begins its new season this weekend with a dramatized concert performance of this operatic masterpiece.
It has been suggested that "Dido and Aeneas was originally designed as a court masque, and possible topical political allusions have been proposed, notably in the light of the future James II's Catholicism, seen to deflect him from his duty as a future king, a hypothetical intrigue that casts the Jesuits as witches." The opera certainly owes something to another work of the time, Blow’s Venus and Adonis. The most recognizable part in the opera is Dido's lament (video below), When I am laid in earth, with its descending and touching ground bass. It has been "covered" by all sorts of artists, including folk/popular musicians, on television, and in movie soundtracks.
Jennifer Lane will star in the role of Dido, as well as sing the role of the Sorceress! The cast features Brett Barnes as Aeneas, Meredith Ruduski as Belinda, Jenifer Thyssen as the second woman, Nick Zammit as the Spirit, and Jeffrey-Jones Ragona as the Sailor. A "Baroque chorus" and the La Follia chamber orchestra round out this production led by Artistic Director Keith Womer.
Dido and Aeneas is often cited as the first "English opera" and by many as one of the greatest - composer Benjamin Britten, held it in high regard (himself a great opera composer) and even quoted Purcell's music in some of his own works. Running only a little over an hour, it certainly packs "an emotional wallop with nobility, destiny, passion, trickery, betrayal, and of course, death" says Womer. "It is set to the most beautiful music imaginable."
He adds, "If you are new to opera, then this is your perfect introduction; it is compact, but intense, with all the elements that make for great opera and great art." Learn more about the performance here. Pre-concert talks begin 30 minutes before each concert.
Click the orange triangle play button above to hear Keith Womer and Jennifer Lane speak about the opera, as well as hear some of Jennifer's recording of the masterpiece.
You can also see Joyce DiDonato sing the famous lament from the opera: