DIDONE ABBANDONATA

With the appointment of Niccolò Jommelli to the Württemberg court in Ludwigsburg in 1753, Duke Carl Eugen brought one of Europe’s leading opera composers to southwestern Germany. Jommelli served as court conductor in Ludwigsburg for nearly two decades, leaving a lasting impact on musical life in Württemberg. He reformed Italian opera, enhanced the orchestra’s sonority, and combined dramatic expressiveness with refined instrumental differentiation. His influence extended well beyond Württemberg.

With »Didone abbandonata«, the composer created a masterpiece of opera seria that captivates not only with its dramatic depth but also with its musical sophistication. Based on the renowned libretto by Pietro Metastasio, Jommelli tells the tragic story of the Carthaginian queen Dido, who is abandoned by Aeneas. First performed in Rome in 1747, Jommelli extensively revised his Didone for the performance in Ludwigsburg. The Württemberg version of 1763 is remarkably splendid in musical terms and reflects his role as a composer caught between reform and tradition. Under the baton of Francesco Corti, the music is performed with a finely nuanced, lively interpretation – dramatic, elegant, and highly expressive.

In cooperation with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra.

The performance on FRI 3. July is part of Festival-Subscription IV.