Thy hand Belinda when I am laid

DIDO AND AENEAS (Z. 626), an opera in prologue and 3 acts, by Henry Purcell.
Performed at Josias Priest's girls' school in London no later than the summer of 1688.
1st publication was in 1689.
Libretto by Nahum Tate.

I. Overture - 0:17

ACT ONE
IIa. Aria: Shake the cloud from off your brow
IIb. Chorus: Banish sorrow, banish care
III. Aria and Ritornello: Ah! Belinda, I am prest with torment
IV. Duet (dialogue): Grief increases by concealing
V. Chorus: When monarchs unite
VI. Trio (dialogue): Whence could so much virtue spring?
VII. Duet and Chorus: Fear no danger
VIII .Trio (dialogue): See, your royal guest appears
IX. Chorus (dialogue): Cupid only throws the dart
X. Aria: If not for mine
XI. Prelude and Aria: Pursue thy conquest, love
XII. Chorus: To the hills and the vales
XIII. The triumphing dance

ACT TWO
XIV. Prelude and Aria: Wayward sisters
XV. Chorus: Harm's our delight
XVI. Aria: The queen of Carthage, whom we hate
XVII -- XX. Chorus and Dialogue: Ho ho ho!
XXI. Chorus: In our deep vaulted cell
XXII. Echo dance of the furies
XXIII. Ritornello
XXIVa-b. Aria and Chorus: Thanks to these lonesome vales
XXIVc. Gittar ground
XXVa. Aria: Oft she visits this lone mountain
XXVb. Ritornello: A Dance to entertain Aeneas by Dido's Women
XXVI. Aria: Behold, upon my bended spear
XXVII. Aria and Chorus: Haste, haste to town
XXVIII. Duet (dialogue): Stay, Prince

ACT THREE
XXIX. Prelude and Aria: Come away, fellow sailors
XXX. The sailor's dance
XXXI. Trio (dialogue): See the flags and the streamers curling
XXXII. Aria: Our next motion
XXXIII. Chorus: Destruction's our delight
XXXIV. The witches' dance
XXXVa. Aria: Your counsel all is urg'd in vain
XXXVb. Trio (dialogue): See, madam where the Prince appears
XXXVI. Chorus: Great minds against themselves conspire
XXXVII. Aria: Thy hand Belinda, darkness shades me
XXXVIII. Ground, Aria and Ritornello: When I am laid in earth
XXXIX. Chorus: With drooping wings
XL. Epilogue: All that we know the angels do above

Performed by Les Arts Florissants
dir. William Christie

Veronique Gens (soprano) as Dido
Nathan Berg (bass-baritone) as Aeneas
Sophie Marin-Degor (soprano) as Belinda
Claire Brua (mezzo-soprano) as Sorceress
Sophie Daneman, Gaelle Mechaly (sopranos) as witches I/II
Jean-Paul Fouchecourt (tenor) as Spirit/Sailor

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Picture: Diana and Callisto (1639), by Peter Paul Rubens.