THE STORY OF “DIDO AND AENEAS," AN OPERA BY HENRY PURCELL

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 November 1947, Page 9

THE STORY OF “DIDO AND AENEAS," AN OPERA BY HENRY PURCELL

lo e a T d r ec?ee h o e f lO the gods is on y s W o?"Sken y daman«" t^ n Carth d Le Belinda, o lady in waiting and confidante to’ Quee tt Dido percewes this and charges her with it. ine chorus echo hfr. Aeneas appears and confesses his love. Act I, scene 1 end with an implied betrothal and retirement to "The hills and the vales an in scene II we are transported to a witches’ cave, where the sorceress and her attendants, who hate Dido are at work to separate the l° vel ' s n hatch a plot to ruin her and het lover. A false Mercury is prepared, who will appear to Aeneas as though sent by the gods and charge him to delay no longer, but get about his business in Italy. The witches conjure for a storm’’ in which to cttecl this plot. ... Act II shows Dido, Aeneas ana Court in the open air amidst hunting and festivity. Suddenly a storm arises, the Court retires and Aeneas, before lie can follow is accosted by the false Mercury. Aeneas protests the injustice of the command, hut says he must obey it. Act 111 transports us to tile quay side where Aeneas is preparing to sail. The sailors and witches form the "local colour.” Dido and Aeneas appear, the former accusing Aeneas of unfaithfulness. He, stung by the queen's reproaches and torn between dutv and love offers to defy the gods and slay. But it is too late. The queen's pride and her faith have been dealt too great a blow and she will have none of him, and sends him away. The sailors of Aeneas rejoice in the prospect of setting form again and call upon each other to take leave of tneir fair ones on shore “tho never intending to visit them more.”

Dido knows, however, that she cannot live without her lover and when he is gone bids farewell to life in the celebrated lament—“ When I am Laid in Earth”; her parting injunction to those about her being: “Remember me! But oh, forget my fate!” She stabs herself and dies, the chorus adding a fitting comment upon her misfortune.