On September 30, 2023, a truly extraordinary spectacle unfolded at Paliesius Manor: audiences were presented with English baroque composer H. Purcell’s opera “Dido and Aeneas,” brought to life by a magnificent gathering of artists—the baroque orchestra “Coin du Roi” (Italy), the vocal ensemble “Duodeco” (Lithuania), Teodora Baka (mezzo-soprano, Greece), Jóhann Kristinsson (baritone, Iceland), Bryndís Guðjónsdóttir (soprano, Iceland), Yo Otahara (soprano, Japan), Julija Stankevičiūtė (mezzo-soprano, Lithuania), Indrė Anankaitė (soprano, Lithuania), Seohee Kim (soprano, South Korea), and Povilas Vanžodis (tenor, Lithuania).
“Dido and Aeneas” is Henry Purcell’s only opera, at least by today’s understanding of the genre. It also stands as one of the very first operas ever written in England. This work draws upon the classical mythological legend of a tragic love between Dido—a refugee from Tyre who became the Queen of Carthage—and Aeneas, who willingly left the city of Troy to fulfill a God-given quest to found the city of Rome. The love between these characters cannot endure against the pull of their individual destinies, and is thus doomed to a tragic end. Aeneas, honoring his mission and yielding to fate, leaves Dido, who ultimately dies of a broken heart.
Performers: Artistic director and conductor Christian Frattima (Italy) | Baroque orchestra “Coin du Roi” (Italy) | Vocal ensemble “Duodeco” (Lithuania) | Soloists: Teodora Baka (Dido | mezzo-soprano, Greece), Jóhann Kristinsson (Aeneas | baritone, Iceland), Bryndís Guðjónsdóttir (Belinda | soprano, Iceland), Yo Otahara (Second Woman | soprano, Japan), Julija Stankevičiūtė (Sorceress | mezzo-soprano, Lithuania), Indrė Anankaitė (First Witch | soprano, Lithuania), Seohee Kim (Second Witch | soprano, South Korea), Povilas Vanžodis (Sailor | tenor, Lithuania) | Christian Frattima (Director of the baroque orchestra “Coin du Roi”) | Povilas Vanžodis (Director of the vocal ensemble “Duodeco”)
Concert recording in the LRT media library
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