Composer

:

Giuseppe Sarti

Genre

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1762

Didone abbandonata is an opera seria in three acts composed by Giuseppe Sarti. The opera was first performed in 1770 at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. The libretto was written by Pietro Metastasio and tells the story of Dido, the Queen of Carthage, who falls in love with Aeneas, a Trojan prince. However, Aeneas is called back to his homeland by the gods, leaving Dido heartbroken and abandoned. The first act of the opera opens with Dido lamenting her loneliness and longing for love. Aeneas arrives in Carthage and the two fall in love. However, their happiness is short-lived as Aeneas is called back to Troy by the gods. Dido is devastated by his departure and sings a powerful aria expressing her pain and sorrow. In the second act, Aeneas is torn between his duty to the gods and his love for Dido. He ultimately decides to leave Carthage, causing Dido to become enraged and curse him. The act ends with Dido contemplating suicide. The final act sees Dido preparing for her death, with Aeneas returning too late to save her. The opera ends with a chorus mourning the loss of Dido. Didone abbandonata is characterized by its use of recitative and aria, typical of the opera seria genre. The music is emotional and expressive, with a focus on the vocal performances of the singers. The opera was well-received at its premiere and has since become a staple of the operatic repertoire. Sarti's version of Didone abbandonata was later revised and performed in 1783, with changes to the libretto and music. However, the original version remains a popular and important work in the history of opera.

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