Dido & Aeneas

First performed in 1688, Henry Purcell's titular opera tells the story of the doomed romance between the Trojan refugee whose descendents would found Rome and the queen of Carthage. In its current truncated form—shorn of many dance movements—Purcell's score barely runs 60 minutes, but this 2014 production from the Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie extends to 80, because choreographer-directors Cécile Roussat and Julien Lubek have restored the missing dance sequences (using other pieces by Purcell and his contemporaries), and some of the tempi taken by conductor Vincent Dumestre and the fine period band Le Poème Harmonique are slower than usual. The result is remarkable, not only musically but in terms of stagecraft. The action is situated on an opulent set of the North African coast, with the sea surging behind the rocks, which then turns into the dreamlike underwater lair of the sorceress—here depicted as a grotesque octopus and sung by a man (Marc Mauillon)—who separates the lovers. Placing the chorus offstage, the directors add to the dance troupe a number of acrobats who cavort about and swing on ropes from the rafters. The costumes are equally imaginative, with Dido's dress literally swallowing her up in the final tableau. The vocalism from Henk Neven (Aeneas) and Ana Quintans (Dido's maid, Belinda) is excellent, and while Vivica Genaux lacks a certain tonal richness as Dido, her rendition is unfailingly accurate. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and stereo, this is highly recommended. (F. Swietek)