HENRY PURCELL (1659-1695)
2023 programming
Prélude : Ode “Celestial music
did the Gods inspire”
Opera
Sunday 23 july – 21h00Basilique Notre-Dame
Virgil tells us that Aeneas, driven out of burning Troy, arrives at the court of Dido, Queen of Carthage. After a passionate romance, Aeneas obeys Jupiter’s order to weigh anchor. The Trojan prince abandons the unfortunate queen, who dies of desper-ation. In Tate’s libretto, it is a sorceress who, under the guise of Mercury, orders the hero to leave Dido and Carthage and conquer Italy. In the famous aria in which Dido says goodbye to life : « When I am laid in earth… Remember me, but ah ! forget my fate », one of the great moments of the opera, Purcell provides a masterpiece of overwhelming emotional density. But as an heir to the Elizabethan theatre, Purcell also excels in combining the comic with the tragic: by contrast, the carefree dances of the sailors and the diabolical clamour of the witches only serve to highlight Dido’s tragedy.
Broadcasted on France Musique on Saturday, August 12th at 8 p.m. in “Le Concert du soir”, presented by Benjamin François.
LES ARTS FLORISSANTS
Conductor : WILLIAM CHRISTIE
- Dido Helen Charlston
- Aeneas / Sorceress Renato Dolcini
- Belinda Ana Vieira Leite
- First Witch Maud Gnidzaz
- Second Witch, Second Woman Virginie Thomas
- Sailor Jacob Lawrence
- Spirit Michael Loughlin Smith
Booking
Dido and Aeneas
Price A
- Series 1° 2° 3° 4°
- Tariff 131 € 73 € 36 € 15 €
The reduced price is reserved to : students, unemployed persons, handicapped persons or group of 10 persons, on providing corresponding documents. Contact us
15,00€ – 131,00€
CAUTION IMPORTANT : SEE THE CONDITIONS OF BOOKING
– Only the 1°, 2° and 3° series are numbered.
– The reduced prices (per concert) are available in the following cases : for persons attending every concert in the same week-end and groups of ten
– We regret that tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.
– In case of bad weather some concerts take place in the basilica Notre-Dame (12th C.). In the Basilica the 4rd series (lateral seats) have good audition but have not direct view. A video retransmission is assured (image only)
– The doors are closed immediately after the concerts begining at 9 PM
– The program is given with reserve of modifications.