Dido Kirsten Flagstad Belinda Elisabeth Schwarzkopf First Lady Eilidh McNab Second Lady Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sorceress Arda Mandikian First Witch Sheila Rex Second Witch Anna Pollak Attendant Spirit Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Aeneas Thomas Hemsley Sailor David Lloyd
Geraint Jones, direttore The Mermaid Singers and Orchestra London, 1952
act I
Overture Shake the cloud from off your brow Ah! Belinda I am pressed Grief increases by concealing Whence could so much virtue spring? Fear, non danger to ensue See, your royal guest appears Cupid only throws the dart If not fo mine, for Empire's sake Pursue thy conquest, Love To the hills and the vales The Triumphing Dance
Watch videos with other singers performing Grief increases by concealing:
BELINDA Then let me speak; the Trojan guest Into your tender thoughts has press'd; The greatest blessing Fate can give Our Carthage to secure and Troy revive.
CHORUS When monarchs unite, how happy their state, They triumph at once o'er their foes and their fate.
DIDO Whence could so much virtue spring? What storms, what battles did he sing? Anchises' valour mix'd with Venus' charms How soft in peace, and yet how fierce in arms!
BELINDA A tale so strong and full of woe Might melt the rocks as well as you.
SECOND WOMAN What stubborn heart unmov'd could see Such distress, such piety?
DIDO Mine with storms of care oppress'd Is taught to pity the distress'd. Mean wretches' grief can touch, So soft, so sensible my breast; But ah! I fear, I pity his too much.
BELINDA AND SECOND WOMAN repeated by Chorus Fear no danger to ensue, The Hero loves as well as you, Ever gentle, ever smiling, And the cares of life beguiling, Cupid strew your path with flowers Gather'd from Elysian bowers.