Purcell, Henry: Dido and Aeneas. Rental

Opera in Three Acts
Edited by Bruce Wood

Duration: c.1 hour
For five soprano solo voices (Dido, Belinda, Second Woman, First Witch, Second Witch), two solo trebles or additional sopranos (Spirit, Sailor), one solo tenor or light baritone (Aeneas), one solo bass or baritone (Sorceress)* and SATB chorus, with strings 3.3.2.2. and continuo (one or two theorbos and/or harpsichords, possibly with a bowed bass instrument such as a viola da gamba)

* Numbers of soloists required for a staged performance of the main-text version without any doubling of roles. It may be possible, depending on theatrical constraints, for Belinda and/or Second Woman each to double as a Witch, and for the two treble parts to be taken by one singer. Or, if necessary, the two treble parts could be taken by a countertenor and tenor. For a concert performance, only three sopranos are required, either or both of whom could also take the two treble roles. In a performance of the Tenbury version, whether fully staged or in concert, a mezzo soprano replaces the bass or baritone (Sorceress). The keyboard/theorbo continuo player can choose to play from an instrumental bass part or from a spiral-bound copy of the full score (available on request).

Two full scores (conductor and producer), one vocal score (producer), and instrumental material.

The full score is also available for sale as Volume 3 of the “Purcell Society Edition” (PE3)

Please contact the Hire Library for further details, or to discuss the possibility of borrowing the performing material on a longer-term basis.