Despite its brevity, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas holds many charms for audience and performers alike, so it’s no wonder that there has recently been something of a boomlet in recordings and reissues (certainly, it doesn’t hurt that this mini-sized opera fits easily on one disc). This particular traversal is helmed by the rising young French conductor and harpsichordist Emmanuelle Haïm, whose snap and vigor in this repertoire is immensely appealing. Another real pleasure is getting to know the stylish Concert d’Astrée, whose poise and elegance is a welcome addition to the roster of Baroque ensembles.
Haïm keeps the work zipping along at a terrific clip but still gives her soloists plenty of room to luxuriate–and what soloists she has! As Dido, Susan Graham blends her signature warmth with a great deal of sweet wistfulness, particularly in the famous aria “Dido’s Lament”, in which her melancholy is matched by a chromatically descending bass line. As sung by Ian Bostridge, Aeneas is a soulful warrior, and Felicity Palmer’s Sorceress offers plenty of venom without resorting to the nasal vamping that many others singing this role have used. David Daniels’ brief turn as the Spirit deserves a special salute for a wonderfully funny caricature (imagine a minor, wheedling office clerk from the bureaucratic pantheon). The sound is as full and rich as the mythic portrayals, making this an easy recommendation. [2/17/2004]
