Dido, Queen of Carthage
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| Original title: | Dido, Queen of Carthage |
Title page of the libretto from 1707 |
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| Shape: | Singspiel in three acts |
| Original language: | German , Italian |
| Music: | Christoph Graupner |
| Libretto : | Heinrich Hinsch |
| Literary source: | Virgil |
| Premiere: | 1707 |
| Place of premiere: | Hamburg |
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Dido, Queen of Carthage is a baroque - opera in three acts by Christoph Graupner . The libretto by Heinrich Hinsch based on Virgil's epic poem Aeneid . The first performance took place in the spring of 1707 in the opera at Gänsemarkt in Hamburg .
The opera is mainly written in German, but also contains 16 arias in Italian. In contrast to the other roles, Dido sings mainly in minor keys.
action
prehistory
After the fall of Troy , the Trojan prince Aeneas , a son of the goddess Venus , made his way to Italy, which was promised to him by an oracle. In a storm, his ship was thrown to the coast of the city of Carthago , where he met Queen Dido . She took him in and fell in love with him.
first act
In his sleep, Dido appears the goddess Juno, who warns her of an impending disaster. She starts up and calls for help. Her confidante, Iras, comes with some ladies-in-waiting. Dido sends her away to see if Aeneas is not sailing away secretly. Dido's sister Anna consoles her with the fact that her wedding to Aeneas should take place today. Then Iras comes back and reassures her that the ships are empty and Aeneas has not got up yet.
Anna sings about her freedom from the compulsion of love, but is secretly in love with Juba, the king of Tire . Aeneas, Menalippe, Juba, Hiarbas , Achates and Iras sing independently of each other Cupid as tyrants. Iras presses Achates who, however, does not want to know anything about her. Juba loves Anna and compares her to marble stones because of her stubbornness. But he does not give up hope.
On the seashore, Hiarbas , the King of Numidia , laments his unrequited love for the Dido he had previously promised. Mena, in turn, is unhappily in love with him.
Aeneas motivates his people to build the city of Carthage. He is no longer interested in sailing to Italy. When he notices that Dido doubts his love for her, he calms her down.
Mercurius , the messenger of the gods , descends from heaven and exhorts Aeneas to finally set out for Italy to take over rule there. Jupiter and his mother Venus have ordered that he must leave today if he does not want to attract the wrath of heaven. His friend Achates advises him to flee from him and do the will of the gods.
Second act
Dido sacrifices at the sanctuary of her first husband, Sichaeus , who was murdered by his brother Pygmalion . His ghost appears, waves to her and calls her three times by name. Dido thinks he wants to call her to his grave and faints. Iras saw the scene.
Hiarbas vows to destroy Carthago if Dido continues to spurn him. Menalippe enters and asks him for protection. On her flight from Egypt to Numidia, she was blown to this land by a storm. She affirms that she will serve him faithfully. Hiarbas tells her about his unrequited love for Dido and asks her to help him in his revenge on Carthago. Juba, who overheard the conversation unnoticed, resolves to tell Anna about it and thus gain her favor.
Dido and Anna discuss the best behavior towards Hiarba. They expect that he will soon be courting Dido again. But Dido cannot accept that.
Achates recommends Aeneas to give in to the orders of his mother Venus and Jupiters. Aeneas, however, thinks Cupid's power is greater than that of Jupiter. Even the anger of the gods could not change his loyalty to Dido. Then Venus appears and renews the order to leave for Italy immediately. Carthago is insignificant compared to the future power of Italy.
Juba asks Anna for her love. Although she is already secretly in love with him, she still reacts dismissively.
Dido receives the envoy of Hiarbas and his entourage in the royal audience hall. Hiarbas and Mena lip are also present. The envoy offers Dido Hiarbas' scepter and heart. However, she explains that she is still mourning for Sichaeus and therefore has to refuse. The envoy threatens her with war. Numidia has already been prepared. He throws his saber at her feet. Dido despises the threats and decides to make a human sacrifice to the god Mithra . Hiarbas is impressed with her grace. One look from her removes all of his anger.
In preparation for the celebration of the sacrifice by the priest Disalces, the sacrifice should be determined by lot. Hiarbas also takes a lot and is chosen. Mena lip tries in vain to stop him, but Hiarbas is determined to die as a victim.
Aeneas has decided to flee. Achates tells him that his people are working hard to get the ships ready for departure and to be able to leave the country. Iras arrives and accuses Achates of perjury as a result of the planned escape. Achates confesses his love to her and offers to come along. They agree on a meeting point where they can enter the ship unnoticed.
The sacrifice is now to be offered at the altar of Mithras. Hiarbas is brought under a canopy with wreaths in a consecrated dress. The priests dance. As Hiarbas is led to the altar, a clap of thunder smashes part of the altar. The priest Disalces realizes that the sacrifice is unsuitable. Hiarbas can no longer sacrifice his heart because he has already dedicated it to Dido. Disalces' oracle proclaims that neither Dido nor Hiarbas will achieve their goal. He now demands a lamb to replace the sacrifice. Dido consoles himself with Aeneas' undamaged love, but has bad premonitions.
Third act
In the port, the Trojan fleet is ready for battle. Aeneas had promised to hold an exhibition match on the occasion of the wedding feast. Dido comes with her entourage to see him. After greeting, Aeneas and Achates enter the ships. Iras makes his way to the agreed meeting point. The ships set off and Aeneas shouts his farewell to Dido. Then she realizes that the maneuver was a delusion and that Aeneas has fled. Iras, who was not taken after all, tells Dido and the others that Aeneas and the Trojans have really left. Dido calls for a campaign of revenge.
Now that Aeneas has left, Hiarbas has renewed hope for Dido. He tells Menalippe, who doesn't believe that Dido can turn to someone else so quickly.
Anna tries in vain to appease Dido, who is seething with anger. This demands vengeance and has the magician bring Elgabal to sacrifice the clothes and sword Aeneas' left behind to Hecate .
Anna and Juba finally find each other and confess their love to each other.
In Dido's room, Elgabal and Iras prepare the altar for Hecate and set the clothes on fire. When Elgabal speaks the mantra, the flames go out. Dido climbs into the embers and plunges into Aeneas' sword. Iras begs the goddess Juno for help. Then the goddess Iris appears on a rainbow and announces that the prayer has been answered. The soul of Dido rises with her into heaven. Iras also throws herself into the sword to follow her queen to death.
The courtiers, Anna and Juba mourn Dido's death. Anna is appointed queen to succeed her sister. She orders that temples and altars be built in honor of Dido's and that she be made the patron goddess, since the war with Numidia is imminent. Then Hiarbas enters with an olive branch and offers peace. Menalippe arrives and accuses Anna of having disregarded her love. Only now does he recognize her worth and ask her forgiveness. He is ready to love her now. Anna and Juba also decide to get married.
Performance history
More recently, the work on 15th April 2010 as part of was zeitfenster V. - Biennale Alter Musik in Berlin Konzerthaus concert listed. Florian Heyerick directed the elbipolis baroque orchestra . The singers were Salomé Haller (Dido), Jutta Böhnert (Anna), Anna Prohaska (Juno and Venus), Doerthe Maria Sandmann (Menalippe), Colin Balzer (Aeneas), Thomas Volle (Achates), Holger Falk (Juba) and Nils Cooper (Jarbas). The concert was broadcast live by Deutschlandradio Kultur .
Web links
- Libretto by Dido, Queen of Carthage as a digitized version in the directory of prints from the 18th century published in German-speaking countries .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Thomas Bauman: Dido, Queen of Carthage in Grove Music Online (paid; free preview ).
- ↑ "time window" - V. Biennial of early music - program of 25 April 2010 on Germany Kultur , accessed on August 25, 2014.