DIDONE ABBANDONATA

Based on Pietro Metastasio’s renowned libretto, Didone abbandonata narrates the tragic tale of the Carthaginian queen Dido, who loves the Trojan hero Aeneas and finds hope for their future happiness in him. However, Aeneas heeds the call of his divine destiny and leaves Carthage to establish a new empire in Italy. Dido perceives his departure as a betrayal. Surrounded by intrigue and harassed by the rejected King Iarbas, she falls into deep isolation. Torn between wounded love and lost dignity, Dido ends up alone – caught between duty, power, and despair.

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. 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.