Organization

Admin

Opéra Royal de Versailles

Stage director

Charles di Meglio

Conductor

Stéphane Fuget

Singer

Soprano

Flore Royer

Dido

Sarah Charles

Belinda

Tenor

Halidou Nombre

Aeneas

Mezzo-soprano

Pauline Gaillard

First witch

Clarisse Dalles

Second witch

Attila Varga-Tóth

First sailor

Franciana Nogues

Spirit

Louise Rouleau

Second woman

Orchestra

Académie de l’Opéra Royal

Others

English

Dido and Aeneas

Versailles

France

Château de Versailles

Public

Private

Saurav Kumar

Approved

Founded in 2023, the Académie de l’Opéra Royal aims to train and support young performers, singers and instrumentalists specialising in baroque music and in particular the specific style of French 17th- and 18th-century music. Masterclasses and work experience are offered, led by top artists who regularly perform at Versailles. For this first year group, a “royal” version of Purcell’s famous Dido and Aeneas will be staged in the Hall of Mirrors, in order to hear these young artists at their very best!

Few baroque operas have aroused such emotion throughout the centuries. Premièred by Purcell in 1689, this utter masterpiece of English music tells the story of the doomed love affair between Aeneas, a survivor of Troy and future founder of Rome, and Dido, Queen of Carthage. Out of this ancient myth pours the harrowing voice of a broken heart, as in the sublime final lamento “When I am laid”, so well known today. Dido and Aeneas is a brief and direct yet astonishingly diverse opera, combining sailors and pastors, sorceresses and furies, comedy and tragedy. The Death of Dido will forever be remembered as a pinnacle of baroque music, but come and listen to its terrible wizardry...

Proceeds from this concert go to the Académie de l’Opéra Royal

Dido and Aeneas by Purcell, From (2024/2024), Directed by Charles di Meglio,, Conductor Stéphane Fuget, Château de Versailles, Versailles, France

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Ensemble

Programme, About & Synopsis

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues