The love story of Dido and Aeneas comes to life in the magnificent direction of Stefano Poda (Rusalka, Faust), inspired by Greek mythology, and combining Baroque and Gothic styles in the stage design and costumes. Dido’s moving aria, “WHEN I AM LAID IN EARTH”, is an unforgettable musical gem in this wonderful opera. Song
Synopsis
Act I
Dido, Queen of Carthage, is in deep sorrow. Belinda, her personal maid, tries to lift her spirits. She understands that her queen is sad because of Aeneas, the Prince of Troy. Belinda suggests that Dido marry Aeneas, which would also help resolve the troubles of the Kingdom of Carthage. However, Dido fears that her love for Aeneas might make her a weak queen. Belinda and another servant speak to her heart and persuade her that even heroes are allowed to love. When Aeneas arrives at the palace, Dido greets him coolly, but in the end, she accepts his marriage proposal.
Scene 1
A sorceress seeks the downfall of Carthage and its queen. She summons her coven to help her weave her wicked plans. She decides to send a loyal demon, disguised as the god Mercury, to convince Aeneas to leave Dido and sail to Italy. In doing so, he will break Dido’s heart and bring about her death. To enable the demon to speak to Aeneas alone, the witches plan to create a storm while Dido and Aeneas are out on a hunting trip, so that Dido will be forced to return to the palace.
Scene 2
Dido and Aeneas pause during the hunt in a beautiful grove. Dido hears thunder in the distance, and Belinda instructs the servants to prepare to find shelter quickly. Once everyone leaves, Aeneas meets the disguised demon, who commands him, in the name of Zeus, to leave Carthage immediately and sail to Italy, where he must build a new Troy. Aeneas agrees to carry out what he believes to be the will of the gods, though the thought of leaving Dido breaks his heart.
Scene 1
Preparations are underway for the Trojan fleet’s departure. The sailors sing as the sorceress and her coven arrive. They are delighted to see their plan unfolding, and the sorceress now plots Aeneas’s final destruction once he sets sail.
Scene 2
Dido and Belinda anxiously search for the missing Aeneas. Suddenly, Aeneas returns and tells Dido of his plans. Dido scorns his reason for leaving, but when he decides to defy the gods and stay in Carthage, she rejects him for having even considered leaving her. At her demand, Aeneas departs from Carthage. Dido mourns her bitter fate and surrenders herself to death.
A variety of options for anyone who wants to enrich the opera experience
Want to know more about the opera you’re going to see? Want to discover the secrets behind the scenes? Want to meet the artists after the performance? The Israeli Opera allows you to enhance your operatic experience with a variety of events before and after the performance.
An hour before each opera performance begins, a 30-minute introductory lecture is held in the auditorium. The lecture, given by representatives of the opera team, sometimes focuses on the opera and its historical background, sometimes on the musical aspects of the work, sometimes on the production itself, and allows viewers to receive additional information in preparation for watching the opera a short time before the performance begins.
The lecture begins one hour before the start of each opera performance.
Lecture length: 30 minutes.
Admission is free for opera ticket holders that day.
A pre-show lecture will be held about an hour before each show begins.
The performance is over. It’s already late. And yet the experience was exciting, challenging, moving. It’s time to meet some of the participants in an informal gathering. Come listen and share. Come ask questions. Come get to know the soloists up close. An extraordinary opportunity to get closer to the artists who just thrilled you on stage.
An Opera Talkback takes place at the end of the performance on the second level of the Opera House’s foyer.
Talkback duration: about half an hour.
The talkbacks take place several times during each production. Admission is free.
The talkbacks will take place immediately after the show on the following dates:
November 2025
ניתן לרכוש שובר שי, בכל סכום בקופת בית האופרה. השובר, מאפשר לרכוש כרטיסים למופעי האופרה, המחול והמוסיקה בהפקת האופרה הישראלית.
A gift voucher can be purchased for any amount at the Opera House box office. The voucher allows you to purchase tickets for opera, dance and music performances produced by the Israeli Opera.
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