When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament)

Opera details:

Opera title:	Dido and Aeneas
Composer:	Henry Purcell
Language:	English
Synopsis:	Dido and Aeneas Synopsis
Libretto:	Dido and Aeneas Libretto
Translation(s):	Deutsch

Aria details:

Also known as:	Dido's Lament
Type:	aria
Role(s):	Dido
Voice(s):	Mezzo-Soprano or Soprano
Act:	3.10

Previous scene:	Thy hand Belinda when I am laid
Next scene:	With drooping wings Cupids come

Henry Purcell -- Dido's Lament "When I am Laid in Earth"

Singer: Jessye Norman

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Thanks for listening to my home-made guitar recordings.

I am pleased to post my recording of the famous aria "When I am Laid in Earth" composed by Henry Purcell as part of his opera Dido and Aeneas. The beautiful arrangement for classical guitar is due to the late American guitarist Paul R. Palmer.

This is perhaps the most poignant melody ever written, and certainly the saddest piece of my repertoire. It is also quite challenging to play for a solo classical guitarist. The result is certainly more intimate and less powerful than the original version for orchestra and voice. There are many beautiful renditions of this piece available on YouTube, in particular that by the great Jessye Norman. This particular recording is illustrated by several paintings depicting Dido and Aeneas due to Heinrich Füger, Nathaniel Dance-Holland and Joseph Turner.

Enjoy! -- Roland

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Other videos of the same singers performing When I am laid in earth:

Emma Kirkby Purcell Dido s lament York 2007 1689

1 - Elin Manahan Thomas

1 - Anna Caterina Antonacci

H Purcell When I am laid in earth Dido s Lament Act III from Dido and Aeneas op Z 626 1710

1 - Elin Manahan Thomas

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1 - Emma Kirkby

Jessye Norman When I Am Laid In Earth 55678

1 - Jessye Norman

Jessye Norman Dido and AeneasPurcell Dido s lament 206614

1 - Jessye Norman

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1 - Christine Schäfer

Dido and Aeneas Thy hand Belinda When I am laid in earth 215267

1 - Leontyne Price

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1 - Jessye Norman

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2 - Carolyn Watkinson

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Libretto/Lyrics/Text/Testo:

DIDO
Thy hand, Belinda; darkness shades me,
On thy bosom let me rest,
More I would, but Death invades me;
Death is now a welcome guest.

When I am laid in earth,
May my wrongs create
No trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.