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Dido and Aeneas in Full Score
"The more it is studied the more confidently can we assert its flawlessness as one of the masterpieces of music-drama." — Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians
When English composer Henry Purcell (1659–1695) wrote Dido and Aeneas , opera was not yet publicly performed in London. Indeed, although Purcell was already recognized as one of London's most distinguished musicians and composers, the debut performance of Dido and Aeneas was not in the kind of grand theater we now associate with opera. It took place at "Josias Priest's Boarding-School at Chelsey…Perform'd by Young Gentlewomen," possibly as early as 1680.
In time, sparkling miniature opera, filled with intense drama and elegant song, would dazzle theater audiences around the world. It remains the oldest English operatic work still regularly performed.
Dido and Aeneas lasts little more than an hour, yet encompasses a broad range of expressive music, from a high-spirited sailors' dance to one of the most touching of all operatic arias, Dido's lament, "When I am laid in earth." This brilliant work, by the greatest English composer of his time, is presented here in an authoritative early full-score edition.
When English composer Henry Purcell (1659–1695) wrote Dido and Aeneas , opera was not yet publicly performed in London. Indeed, although Purcell was already recognized as one of London's most distinguished musicians and composers, the debut performance of Dido and Aeneas was not in the kind of grand theater we now associate with opera. It took place at "Josias Priest's Boarding-School at Chelsey…Perform'd by Young Gentlewomen," possibly as early as 1680.
In time, sparkling miniature opera, filled with intense drama and elegant song, would dazzle theater audiences around the world. It remains the oldest English operatic work still regularly performed.
Dido and Aeneas lasts little more than an hour, yet encompasses a broad range of expressive music, from a high-spirited sailors' dance to one of the most touching of all operatic arias, Dido's lament, "When I am laid in earth." This brilliant work, by the greatest English composer of his time, is presented here in an authoritative early full-score edition.
112 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1985
54 people want to read
About the author
Henry Purcell
1,181 books4 followersBaroque composer Henry Purcell served, at various times in his life, as organ tuner, "composer-in-ordinary," organist, and composer to the royal family. He is probably best known for his stage music, including The Fairy Queen (1692) and the opera, Dido and Aeneas (1689). He composed more than 250 pieces of music in his lifetime, including secular songs, religious anthems, pieces for instrumental ensemble, and works for harpsichord.
More information can be found here:
http://www.naxos.com/person/Henry_Pur...
More information can be found here:
http://www.naxos.com/person/Henry_Pur...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 7, 2024
Like any self respecting opera, this one shows once again that love is greater than life. The drawback for me was that the agony wasn't palpable enough. I needed more suffering!
March 8, 2017
"Great minds against themselves conspire
And shun the cure they most desire."
And shun the cure they most desire."
March 21, 2017
Read the musical score and libretto in advance for the upcoming staging of this opera (my favorite) in my city.
The libretto is quite short but comes to life when joined with the music. Sublime!
The libretto is quite short but comes to life when joined with the music. Sublime!
May 1, 2016
One of the first Operas I've ever listened to all the way through. I read the sheet music as I was listening and I was struck by the beauty of many of the melodies in it. It's a short opera, and a tragedy about the love between Dido and Aeneas. The plot isn't very complicated, but it gets a pass from me because the point is the music and the emotions. The lyrics are well written and have some great lines.
Plot: (Spoilers)
The beginning of the opera sees Dido and Aeneas become engaged. My favorite melody from this part of the play was "Peace and I are strangers grown."
The opera then turns to the antagonists, an evil sorcerer and witches. They conspire against Dido and Aeneas, planning to trick Aeneas into leaving, thus breaking Dido's heart and killing her. I really liked the creepy melody that preceded the entrance of the Sorcerer and Witches.
Their plan goes off perfectly and Aeneas prepares to leave. His final conversation with Dido is emotionally packed as he says he will anger the Gods to stay, but she says he must go.
The opera climaxes with Dido's death and the famous scene "Dido's lament." A heartbreaking melody.
Favorite Songs:
Ah! Belinda, I am prest
Thanks to these lonesome vales
When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament)
Favorite Lines:
Belinda:
Shake the Cloud off from your brow.
Grief increases by concealing.
Dido:
Peace and I are strangers grown.
Whence could so much virtue spring?
To Earth and Heav'n why do I call?
Earth and Heav'n conspire my fall.
To Fate I sue, of other means bereft
The only refuge for the wretched left.
When I am laid in earth, May my wrongs create
No trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.
Sorcerer and Witches:
Harm's our delight and mischief all our skill.
Destruction's our delight
Delight our greatest sorrow!
Aeneas:
How can so hard a fate be took?
One night enjoy'd, the next forsook.
Yours be the blame, ye gods! For I
Obey your will, but with more ease could die.
Plot: (Spoilers)
The beginning of the opera sees Dido and Aeneas become engaged. My favorite melody from this part of the play was "Peace and I are strangers grown."
The opera then turns to the antagonists, an evil sorcerer and witches. They conspire against Dido and Aeneas, planning to trick Aeneas into leaving, thus breaking Dido's heart and killing her. I really liked the creepy melody that preceded the entrance of the Sorcerer and Witches.
Their plan goes off perfectly and Aeneas prepares to leave. His final conversation with Dido is emotionally packed as he says he will anger the Gods to stay, but she says he must go.
The opera climaxes with Dido's death and the famous scene "Dido's lament." A heartbreaking melody.
Favorite Songs:
Ah! Belinda, I am prest
Thanks to these lonesome vales
When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament)
Favorite Lines:
Belinda:
Shake the Cloud off from your brow.
Grief increases by concealing.
Dido:
Peace and I are strangers grown.
Whence could so much virtue spring?
To Earth and Heav'n why do I call?
Earth and Heav'n conspire my fall.
To Fate I sue, of other means bereft
The only refuge for the wretched left.
When I am laid in earth, May my wrongs create
No trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.
Sorcerer and Witches:
Harm's our delight and mischief all our skill.
Destruction's our delight
Delight our greatest sorrow!
Aeneas:
How can so hard a fate be took?
One night enjoy'd, the next forsook.
Yours be the blame, ye gods! For I
Obey your will, but with more ease could die.
May 27, 2016
Engaging score and libretto, if a bit courtly. Giggling, prophetic witches don't get enough air time these days.
March 31, 2019
El breve y delicado libreto de Dido y Eneas, un argumento creado para ser interpretado por las alumnas internas de una escuela de mujeres, es sin embargo rico en referencias, no sólo de la Eneida y la mitología clásica, sino de las formas del teatro de Shakespeare. Un buen soporte para una excelente músia
December 31, 2020
I am putting this as one of my read books because I read and sung and analyzed the libretto a bunch of times, but also because I read someone’s 300-ish page college thesis on Dido and Aeneas.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews