Henry Purcell, the composer, created melodies of "near-unearthly beauty" for the character of Dido, Queen of Carthage, particularly in her closing aria.
Compositional Technique
In Dido's first aria, 'Ah! Belinda', Purcell subtly foreshadows the opera's tragic outcome by shifting the bass line from C minor to G minor, anticipating the key of Dido's lament.
Composition History
New findings suggest that Dido and Aeneas was a commissioned work from 1683/84, performed at the court of Charles II, rather than for a girls' boarding school in 1689 as previously thought.
Recording & Production
The Philharmonie Essen, where this recording took place, was rebuilt in the 1950s after being destroyed during World War II and reopened in 2004 after extensive renovation.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the Alfried Krupp Saal in the Philharmonie Essen, a venue known for its outstanding acoustics.
Composition History
Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas is considered one of the classics of the operatic repertoire, yet no complete, authentic version of it exists.
