Join Boston Baroque for an evening of two landmark English operas: John Blow’s Venus and Adonis and Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.
Presented together, these compact masterpieces trace the emergence of English opera in the late seventeenth century. Closely connected in both style and history, Venus and Adonis is widely believed to have influenced Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, which was composed only a few years later. Both works place a powerful woman at the center of the drama, draw on stories from classical mythology, and conclude with some of the most poignant music of the Baroque era.
Blow’s Venus and Adonis tells the story of the goddess Venus and her mortal lover Adonis. Despite Venus’s attempts to keep him from danger, Adonis departs for the hunt and is fatally wounded by a wild boar. Blending courtly entertainment with genuine emotional depth, the opera moves from playful scenes of love and Cupid’s mischief to a tragic conclusion that foreshadows later operatic masterpieces.
After intermission, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas recounts the ill-fated love between Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan hero Aeneas. When supernatural forces intervene, Aeneas abandons Dido to fulfill his destiny, leaving her to face heartbreak and death. Though lasting little more than an hour, the opera contains some of the most memorable music in the Baroque repertoire, culminating in Dido’s famous lament, one of the defining scenes in all of opera.
Together, these works reveal the richness and ambition of English musical theater at a formative moment in its history. With unforgettable characters, mythological storytelling, and music of remarkable invention, Venus and Adonis and Dido and Aeneas remain as compelling today as they were more than three centuries ago.
Join us at Jordan Hall for this rare opportunity to experience two foundational operas side by side, performed by an exceptional cast under the music direction of Lionel Meunier.
Dates/Times
Friday, April 23, 2027 | 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 25, 2027 | 3:00 PM
Location
New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall | 30 Gainsborough St, Boston, MA 02115
Ticket Prices
$25 – $180 | 10% off for subscriptions