Search - Gerald Finley, Henry Purcell, René Jacobs :: Purcell: Dido and Aeneas

Jacobs' Masterful Turn on Purcell's Brief But Dramatically F

Ed Uyeshima | San Francisco, CA USA | 10/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Henry Purcell's oft-recorded opera, "Dido and Aeneas", is in fact the only one he ever composed, and renowned Baroque specialist René Jacobs turns out to be an ideal interpreter of this seminal 17th-century musical allegory. Not even an hour in length, the opera is an ideal introduction to this period of classical music, as Purcell melds a tragic love story with Shakespearean-level theatricality and surprising comedy elements. This 2006 reissue of a 1998 performance doesn't have quite the dramatic vibrancy of Emmanuelle Haïm's 2004 six-instrument ensemble, but it compensates with scope and polish.



The plot is drawn from Virgil's epic poem and centers on Dido, Queen of Carthage, who falls in love with Prince Aeneas, who is resting at Carthage on his way to found Rome. With the help of a disguised spirit, three witches decide to undo the lovers purely out of spite. The consequence is that Aeneas abandons Dido and sails for Rome, while a heartbroken Dido commits suicide. A superb cast has been assembled beginning with soprano Lynne Dawson, who has a lovely, plaintive vocal quality that brings an intense vulnerability to her characterization. She starts affectingly with the melancholic "Ah! Belinda" and ends with a haunting rendition of the piece's most famous aria, "When I am laid in earth".



Generally a tenor role and a small one at that, Aeneas is played with virile potency by baritone Gerald Finley. Soprano Rosemary Joshua provides fulsome support as the handmaiden Belinda, and fellow soprano Susan Bickley brings dramatic fire to the role of Sorceress (though I wish a mezzo-soprano was cast to add more vocal variety to the mix). A fourth soprano, Maria Cristina Kiehr, handles the Second Woman's aria with aplomb, "Oft she visits this lov'd mountain", and a trio of superb countertenors - Dominique Vasse, Stephen Wallace and Robin Blaze - rounds out the ensemble with brief but vivid appearances as the witches and the spirit. Jacobs masterfully leads the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, as does Timothy Brown with the Clare College Chapel Choir. The sum effect is often exhilarating and a fine addition to the Purcell discography."

You're in for a Treat!

Robert M. Nichols | 06/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wow! I just stumbled onto this reissue from another website. I thought it was out of the catalog. I have several versions of Purcell's masterpiece and let me assure you that this is the best one hands down! Rene Jacobs rarely disappoints and he and his orchestra and singers are in fine form in Dido and Aeneas. It's full of drama, exquisite singing and music which lifts you up and tears at your heartstrings especially the famous closing lament. And all of this for only $7.98?! You'd be mad to pass this offer up. Don't hesitate. Grab this while you can!"