Masque of Might - Opera North, 2023, Harry Bicket, Sir David Pountney
James Glossop

Purcell

Henry Purcell is arguably England’s finest composer of music for the stage before Benjamin Britten, yet he wrote only one opera, Dido and Aeneas. Masterpiece though that undoubtedly is, much of Purcell’s greatest dramatic music is to be found in the ‘semi-operas’, masques and other entertainments that were popular in his time, such as The Fairy Queen.

Masque of Might
Feature

Reinventing Purcell

In honour of Opera North’s Masque of Might, Nicholas Payne reflects on recent productions offering new ways to stage the work of Henry Purcell.

Masque of Might
Copyright
James Glossop
Performance
Opera North

Masque of Might

Sir David Pountney creates an eco-entertainment with the music of Purcell.

Dido & Aeneas
Extract
Dido & Aeneas
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Thanks to these lonesome vales

Ana Vieira Leite (Belinda) sings ‘Thanks to these lonesome vales’ from Dido & Aeneas with Les Arts Florissants - William Christie at Gran Teatre del Liceu.

Dido & Aeneas
Extract
Dido & Aeneas
•

Dido's Lament (Thy hand Belinda... When I am laid)

Gran Teatre del Liceu presents Dido & Aeneas, directed by the conductor William Christie and staged by the choreographer Blanca Li. The title role of Dido, Queen of Carthage, is sung by Kate Lindsey. In this famous final lament, a broken-hearted Dido prepares to be ‘laid in earth'.