Purcell: Dido and Aeneas, DiDonato/Il Pomo d'Oro (CD)

Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas is performed by Joyce DiDonato in the title role with Il Pomo d'Oro under Maxim Emelyanychev. Recorded live at Essen Philharmonie during a celebrated 2024 European tour, this Erato release brings together one of the Baroque era’s greatest operas with a starry international cast including Michael Spyres, Fatma Said and Hugh Cutting.

Purcell’s compact masterpiece recounts the tragic love of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan hero Aeneas, culminating in the immortal lament When I am laid in Earth (Dido’s Lament). Combining theatrical urgency, stylish period playing and DiDonato’s commanding interpretation, this performance offers a vivid modern account of one of opera’s enduring masterpieces.

"DiDonato is magnificent as Dido, fully understanding how badly her story will end in her first aria as Purcell slides from minor to minor, then sumptuously sorrowful in When I am laid in Earth, with silky tone and seamless legato ... the orchestra of Il Pomo Oro, directed by Maxim Emelyanychev, is in fine form, with admirable open intonation from the strings and their accustomed high energy attack." — BBC Music Magazine

Purcell Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626
Joyce DiDonato Dido
Michael Spyres Aeneas
Fatma Said Belinda
Carlotta Colombo Attendant
Hugh Cutting Spirit
Beth Taylor Sorceress
Laurence Kilsby Sailor
Alena Dantcheva First Witch
Anna Piroli Second Witch
Il Pomo d'Oro
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Il Pomo d'Oro Choir
Giuseppe Maletto director

Discs: 1
Record Label: Erato
Release Date: September 19, 2025