OperX: 'Dido and Aeneas'

Purcell's Dido and Aeneas is based on Virgil's epic poem, The Aeneid and the opera is often said to be the birth of the English Opera art form back when the work premiered in 1689. Dido and Aeneas touches on the idea of fate and the conflict between making an active choice to fall in love vs. the idea of star-crossed lovers of fate ‘making’ you fall in love. In this case, fate intervenes to separate Dido and Aeneas, but the work really investigates how much this is a choice – to follow fate or determine your own future. It remains important to this day dealing with themes and conflict between love and duty.

The character of Dido, abandoned and betrayed, can be interpreted as representing the consequences of political decisions on individuals. Her tragic end may symbolize the personal toll of political actions and the impact of power dynamics on individuals and communities. This may be seen through the lens of climate change, ongoing humanitarian crises, or indeed most any modern example of tragic duty. However, at its core it remains a beautiful tragic love story of star crossed lovers which we are excited to bring to life again.