Purcell: Dido & Aeneas

After the success of the DVDs devoted to Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme and Cadmus & Hermione, Vincent Dumestre and Le Poème Harmonique continue their exploration of repertoires of the 17th century.This piece, combining theatre and music, allowed Purcell to achieve his dramatic ideal. In fact, he wrote only a single opera in his short career he died at the age of 36 , but with it, he left us a gem of rare beauty and extreme concision. The work's genius is also due in part to the quality of the libretto, skilfully put together by Nahum Tate.Cécile Roussat and Julien Lubek, stage directors coming from the arts of the circus and the mime Marceau, had already collaborated with Le Poème Harmonique on the Carnaval Baroque. Here, they combine mime, dance and acrobatics with the music in a moving, magical production.

Directed by —, Purcell: Dido & Aeneas leans on a strong ensemble — Vivica Genaux, Henk Neven, Ana Quintans — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2015.