FULL DIDO AND AENEAS ELISSA Salzburg 2023 Anna-Maria Husca, Niklas Mayer, Anastasia Fedorenko
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Dido and Aeneas, Elissa
- Composer: Purcell Henry, Henry Fourès
- Libretto: Nahum Tate, Elisabeth Gutjahr Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: Max Schlereth Saal, Universität Mozarteum Salzburg, Austria
- Recorded: June 25, 2023
- Type: Staged Opera Live
- Singers: Anna-Maria Husca, Niklas Mayer, Anastasia Fedorenko, Donata Meyer-Kranixfeld, Julia Maria Eckes, Lucas Pellbäck, Laura Obermair, Julia Schneider, Emil Ugrinov
- Conductor: Kai Röhrig
- Orchestra:
- Chorus: Vokal-Ensemble
- Chorus Master: Giorgio Musolesi
- Stage Director: Rosamund Gilmore
- Stage Designer: Carla Schwering
- Costume Designer: Carla Schwering
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Universität Mozarteum
- Date Published: 2023
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: yessubs, desubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
More than 330 years after the premiere of Henry Purcell’s only complete opera, the French composer Henry Fourès composed a setting for Dido and Aeneas and called it “Elissa”. A middle name of the queen, allowing the character to exist on her own, with no direct connection to Aeneas. Fourès develops them from questioning voices and sounds that revolve around contemporary issues. They intertwine with the myth, which gradually comes to the surface. Elissa becomes Dido and accepts her fate. With a libretto by Elisabeth Gutjahr.
Dido, the widowed queen of Carthage, confesses her love for the hero Aeneas to Belinda. Against her fears and reservations, he reciprocates Dido’s love and convinces her to marry. In order to prevent this and thus plunge Dido and Carthage into misfortune, a sorceress sends a spirit in the form of Mercury, who reminds Aeneas of his duty to resurrect Troy. Aeneas confesses his decision to leave Dido and leaves her forever.
Purcell’s final notes are followed by a final search for words that previously seemed unspeakable, leading Elissa and Dido back to themselves once more.
A production by the Departments for Opera and Music Theatre, Early Music and Scenography. In cooperation with the Accademia Chigiana.