24 September, 7 pm
Vaidilos Theatre, Jakšto g. 9, Vilnius
Henry Purcell (1659–1695) opera
Dido and Aeneas
libreto by Nahum Tate (1652–1715)
PERFORMERS
Musical director and conductor Christian Frattima (Italy)
Dido: Theodora Baka (Greece) – mezzo-soprano
Aeneas: Jóhann Kristinsson (Iceland) – baritone
Belinda: Bryndís Guðjónsdóttir (Iceland) – soprano
2nd Woman: Yo Otahara (Japan) – soprano
Sorceress: Julija Stankevičiūtė (Lithuania) – mezzo-soprano
1st Witch: Indrė Anankaitė (Lithuania) - soprano
2nd Witch: Seohee Kim (South Korea) - soprano
Sailor: Povilas Vanžodis (Lithuania) - tenor
Baroque orchestra Coin du Roi (Italy), director Christian Frattima
Vocal ensemble Duodeco (Lithuania), director Povilas Vanžodis
‘Dido and Aeneas’ is Henry Purcell’s only opera in the true sense of the term, as well as one of the first operas composed in England. It reimagines the classical tale of tragic love between Dido, the Queen of Carthage who was a former refugee from the city of Tyre, and Aeneas – himself an exile from Troy – who is following his god-given destiny to found the city of Rome. Their love stands in the way of both of their individual destinies, and is bound to end tragically. Aeneas must follow his own destiny and abandons Dido, who will die of broken heart.
Although the opera departs from the original work ‘The Aeneid’ by the Latin poet Virgil (70–19 BCE), it underlines various aspects of exile: from the personal histories that bring its two main characters together, to a new departure for Aeneas, which is perceived as an exile from his beloved Dido. In the end, there is Dido’s self-imposed exile: her inability to return to her former status as a capable and mighty queen.
* Here you can download the concert programme.
