Purcell: Dido & Aeneas

Year: 2008
Genre: Opera
Music: Henry Purcell
Libretto: Nahum Tate, based on Book IV of Virgil's Aeneid.
Les Arts Florissants
Conductor: William Christie
Stage Director: Deborah Warner
Video Director: François Roussillon
Cast and Crew: Dido: Malena Ernman, Aeneas: Christopher Maltman, Belinda: Judith van Wanroij, Sorceress: Hilary Summers, Second Woman: Lina Markeby, First Witch: Céline Ricci, Second Witch: Ana Quintans, Spirit: Marc Mauillon, Sailor: Damian Whiteley, Prologue: Fiona Shaw

Description:

From the beginning performance, when we see the prologue spoken by Fiona Shaw linking together several myths of ancient Greece with so much wit and panache, we realize that we will have a great artistic experience through the entire show. The little children are nothing more, nothing less, what Purcell had in mind when he composed the opera to be performed at the Josias Priest's girls' school in London in 1688. They do not harm the performance; on the contrary, they add commedy, drama, pathos when and wherever is needed.

The singers are for the most part outstanding and very aware of the baroqque style of singing (little vibrato in the voice and no trills). The short and thankless part of Aeneas is taken by Christopher Maltman, who rally looks like he is in love with Dido and annoyed by being a pawn of the gods and sings with conviction. And the Dido of Malena Erman is superb! William Chritie and his Les Arts Florissants are nothing short of magnificent. [Amazon UK - customer review]

Recorded live at the Opéra Comique, Paris, December 2008.

Production:
Runtime: 01:06:15