Francesco Cavalli was the great figure of Monteverdi’s generation, the first generation of opera composers. The performance of their operas requires a small but professional group and only a few solo instruments - which is why they are perfect for us. Didone’s significance lies in the fact that it probably had a great influence on Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. This is a strongly dramatic piece and one of its characteristics is that it depicts the horrible last days of Troy in a way that was unusually bold for its time, while also beautifully projecting the drama of Aeneas being torn between staying and fleeing. In our performance, Act I of the original piece is developed into an opera of its own, thus emphasizing the modern, almost romantic aspect of this gloomy act.

Due to the epidemic, the play was presented virtually.