Singer

The story , inspired by the fourth book of Virgil 's Aeneid , narrates the ill-fated love between the Queen of Carthage and the Trojan hero. Dido , initially reluctant to give in to her feelings, is reassured by her sister Belinda and gives in to her passion for Aeneas. But the happiness of the two lovers is threatened by a sorceress and her witches who plot her ruin. During a hunting trip, the forces of evil unleash a storm, and a spirit, sent in the guise of Mercury, orders Aeneas to leave Carthage to fulfill his mission in Italy. Despite the prince's pain and uncertainty, Dido, wounded by the mere thought of his betrayal, drives him away and chooses to die. The opera ends with one of the most famous pieces in the history of music, Dido's lament " When I am laid in earth ," the prayer of a woman who asks to be remembered, but for her tragic fate to be forgotten.

Dido and Aeneas

Teatro Massimo di Palermo

The premiere of the opera Alcina by Georg Friedrich Handel on April 16, 1735, brought the composer unheard-of success. The plot of the opera is based on Ludovico Ariosto`s epic poem "Furious Roland". Alcina is a fantasy saga full of extraordinary adventures, where the sorceress Alcina deftly uses magical spells to bewitch her lovers. The last person to fall into her net was the valiant knight Ruggiero. The audience of the Jerusalem Lyric Opera Festival will have a unique opportunity to hear and see the true pearls of the Baroque era - "Verdi Prati", "Ah, mio ​​cor!" and "Mi restano le lagrime" - the most soulful arias ever created for the music scene.

Countertenor

Alexandru Costea

Events

Past events

20 - 24 Feb, 2026

Dido and Aeneas · Teatro Massimo

Apr 6, 2024

Handel Alcina · Jerusalem Lyric Opera

Future and recently performed repertoire

Spirit in Dido and Aeneas by Purcell

Teatro Massimo

About

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