Dido's Lament
Exploring what Henry Purcell's aria, from his 17th century opera Dido and Aeneas, means to different people. From March 2010.
Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.
Dido's Lament is a popular name for a famous aria, 'When I am laid in earth', from the opera Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell, with the libretto by Nahum Tate. Mezzo soprano Sarah Connolly talks about why she finds the piece, sung by the likes of Janet Baker and Emma Kirkby, so extraordinary, and the skill it takes to perform it. Composer and cellist Philip Shepperd's musical life was transformed when he was part of the rock singer Jeff Buckley's performance of the piece at the 1995 Meltdown Festival.
Contributors:
Alison Moyet
Sarah Connolly
Jeremy summerly
Graham Jones
Sheryl Sarnet
Nicholas Witchell
Philip Sheppard
First broadcast on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 in 2010.
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Henry Purcell
Dido's Lament
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Producer | Rosie Boulton |
| Producer | Lucy Lunt |
| Producer | Sara Conkey |
| Composer | Henry Purcell |
Broadcasts
Tue 9 Mar 2010 13:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4- Sat 13 Mar 2010 15:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Fri 2 Sep 2016 18:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
- Sat 3 Sep 2016 00:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
- Tue 16 Feb 2021 18:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
- Wed 17 Feb 2021 00:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
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Watch the animation - Professor Mary King describes how the song became a symbol of hope.
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Soul Music
Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact
