or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
13 used & new from $21.18
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
or
Get a $5.25 Amazon.com Gift Card
Purcell - Dido and Aeneas (Royal Opera House)
 
See larger image and other views 
See all product images
Share your own customer images

Purcell - Dido and Aeneas (Royal Opera House) (2009)

Sarah Connolly (Actor), Lucas Meachem (Actor), Wayne McGregor (Director) | Rated: NR | Format: DVD
3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
List Price: $32.98
Price: $29.49 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details
You Save: $3.49 (11%)
  Special Offers Available
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Thursday, September 9? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
11 new from $21.18 2 used from $29.47

Check Out Related Media

Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • Get $4 worth of eligible movies and TV shows from Amazon Video On Demand after you order your item. Limited to one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
  • Sizzling Summer Savings. For a limited time, save up to 60% on select popular movies and TV shows. Event ends September 20.

  • Save up to 60% on selected movies and TV shows on DVD and Blu-ray disc.

  • DVD Bargains. For a limited time, load up on select DVD favorites for only $8.99. Hurry, offer ends September 30, 2010. Learn more.

Frequently Bought Together

Purcell - Dido and Aeneas (Royal Opera House) + Purcell: Dido & Aeneas + Purcell - Dido & Aeneas / Maria Ewing, Karl Daymond, Collegium Musicum 90
Price For All Three: $83.47

Show availability and shipping details

Buy the selected items together

  • In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details

  • Purcell: Dido & Aeneas ~ Malena Emman DVD$26.99

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details

  • Purcell - Dido & Aeneas / Maria Ewing, Karl Daymond, Collegium Musicum 90 ~ Maria Ewing DVD$26.99

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Purcell - Dido and Aeneas (Royal Opera House)
63% buy the item featured on this page:
Purcell - Dido and Aeneas (Royal Opera House) ~ Sarah Connolly DVD 3.4 out of 5 stars (5)
$29.49
Purcell - Dido & Aeneas / Maria Ewing, Karl Daymond, Collegium Musicum 90
15% buy
Purcell - Dido & Aeneas / Maria Ewing, Karl Daymond, Collegium Musicum 90 ~ Maria Ewing DVD 4.1 out of 5 stars (7)
$26.99
Purcell: Dido & Aeneas
10% buy
Purcell: Dido & Aeneas ~ Malena Emman DVD
$26.99
Dido and Aeneas [Blu-ray]
8% buy
Dido and Aeneas [Blu-ray] ~ Christopher Hogwood Blu-ray 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
$26.99
› Explore similar items

Product Details

  • Actors: Sarah Connolly, Lucas Meachem, Sara Fulgoni, Christopher Hogwood, Lucy Crowe
  • Directors: Wayne McGregor
  • Format: Classical, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language: English (DTS 5.1), English (PCM Stereo)
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: BBC / Opus Arte
  • DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009
  • Run Time: 72 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B002NUYK92
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #34,350 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Editorial Reviews

Thestar.com, John Terauds, December 8, 2009

The richness of the musical and dramatic material in Henry Purcell's hour-long 1689 opera Dido and Aeneas has inspired directors and opera companies to try all kinds of alternative stagings. Rarely have any been as successful as this mix of ballet and opera conceived by director Wayne McGregor for La Scala in 2006, and recorded in high-definition at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in April. The music is superb, led by a fabulous performance by English mezzo Sarah Connolly as Dido. Christopher Hogwood crisply leads the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. The action on stage is shadowed by 12 members of the Royal Ballet. Music and movement are always in perfect sync, both emotionally and physically. The sets are minimal, further putting the emphasis on the people. The main extra is a 10-minute interview with the engaging, 39-year-old McGregor, a rare example of a successful dance-opera crossover artist.

Fulvue Drive-in, Nicholas Sheffo, November 2009

Purcell: Dido & Aeneas is directed by Wayne McGregor from Henry Purcell's tale of love versus the powers of evil. A British production in Milan, this is one of the more interesting ballets of modern times I have seen. With its supernatural bent, I am surprised we have not seen someone (hope I am not suggesting a bad idea here) license this and gut it out into a bad horror film, though the romance angle might stop that. Maybe fans of Twilight and New Moon should see this one, especially as it is sung in English as written. The PCM 5.1 mix is really good and extras include a cast gallery, illustrated synopsis and McGregor interview.
See all Editorial Reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Massenet - Thais (Metropolitan Opera)

Massenet - Thais (Metropolitan Opera)

DVD ~ Renee Fleming
4.1 out of 5 stars (17)  $26.99
Offenbach - Orphee aux Enfers

Offenbach - Orphee aux Enfers

DVD ~ Natalie Dessay
4.3 out of 5 stars (6)  $29.49
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor / Netrebko, Beczala, Kwiecien, Metropolitan Opera

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor / Netrebko, Beczala, Kwiecien, Metropolitan Opera

DVD ~ Anna Netrebko
3.9 out of 5 stars (18)  $31.99
Acis & Galatea

Acis & Galatea

DVD ~ Handel
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  $29.49
Debussy - Pelleas et Melisande

Debussy - Pelleas et Melisande

DVD ~ Natalie Dessay
4.7 out of 5 stars (3)  $16.49
› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
Agree with these tags?
See all 6 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.4 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A triumph for Covent Garden..., November 22, 2009
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Purcell - Dido and Aeneas (Royal Opera House) (DVD)
Although I wanted to see Sarah Connolly again after her searing portrayal of Giulio Cesare at Glyndebourne, I really bought this DVD to see baritone hunk Lucas Meacham as Aeneas. He and Mariusz Kwiecien currently share the world's stages as the hottest Don Giovannis, and, with his luminous blue eyes and seductive, lyric baritone, Lucas creates an Aeneas worthy of suicide.

But, this is really Sarah's show, in which she delivers an exquisitely crafted Dido, complete with puffy eyes to emphasize her turmoil. Her final aria "When I am laid in earth" is a thing of uncommon beauty, not only because of the tasteful and welcome ornamentation, but because of a phenomenal commitment to text. There is not one moment throughout her entire performance in the opera that doesn't display the ultimate in poise, talent and concentration.

With the exception of the chief sorceress, the other roles are ideally cast. Belinda (Lucy Crowe) is young, blonde and beautiful, and has a voice to match. The two witches are bound here as siamese twins and bring a bit of humor to the proceedings. So integral and expressive is the chorus that you welcome its every appearance.

The hidden treasure of this production, though, is the dancing. Director Wayne McGregor provides some powerful choreography that bridges the scene changes, comments on the action, and at times just takes your breath away. Members of the Royal Ballet provide the stage with visual electricity, elevating the dramatic experience to a whole new level.

The photos on the DVD box show a minimalist production that makes use of strange, colorless costumes, wide, empty spaces, and drab sets. But, don't be put off by those...what may seem sparing visually actually serves the opera's origins as a modest chamber work. Some color does find its way through, eventually.

Christopher Hogwood and the OAE not only provide ideal accompaniment, but set the tenor for unbridled success.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Dido and Aeneas, February 28, 2010
By E. Apuzzo (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Purcell - Dido and Aeneas (Royal Opera House) (DVD)
Director and choreographer Wayne McGregor has a very interesting take on this classic Greek story. The story of "Dido and Aeneas" runs the range of emotions: from hesitant and happy to vengeful and desperate. If for some reason Henry Purcell's musical drama is unable to transport you through these feelings, The Royal Ballet provides a visual interpretation that I found very effective. The dances seem more modern than classical ballet, which appealed to me. During "Oft she visits this lone mountain" the dancers are almost doing sign language for a very literal presentation. While on the visual side of things, I must comment on the technical production and staging. The costumes and lighting are very pleasant. I enjoy the color palette used as it allows the colorful emotions to shine through without a distracting light show or costumes. The single spotlights are used sparingly and tastefully each time. The way McGregor chose to stage the chorus was also nice. Too often opera choruses can be staged in a way that pulls attention from the leads. In this case he really sticks to the Greek tragedian way of presenting the chorus. Chorus Master, Stephen Westrop, does a lovely job directing the chorus. The vocal nuance and dynamics are well approached. Lucy Crowe, as Belinda, does a beautiful job on all of the agile passes. At times her dramatic interpretation is a bit campy, but fortunately, that is not the case throughout. Sarah Connolly, as Dido, has such a substantial voice. Her rich and creamy sound is exactly what I want to remember as the piece comes to a close. Overall, the piece is very fluid and well presented.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
3.0 out of 5 stars Odd dancing dooms this version, April 25, 2010
This review is from: Purcell - Dido and Aeneas (Royal Opera House) (DVD)
I have the greatest respect for Christopher Hogwood and the talented Ms. Connolly (her rendition of "When I'm laid in earth" is marvellous), but the dancing in this version simply ruined it for me. The dancers move in awkward ways and are dressed like they are in the gym. While watching them perform, I couldn't stop thinking of Olivia Newton John and her music video "Physical". Come on! What's wrong with being faithful to the composer and his time? An additional drawback, already pointed out by another reviewer, is the minimalist setting. I should add that, since this seems to be performed on period instruments, I really had to crank up the volume of my home theater system in order to hear the music.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Ballet fans BEWARE!
If you are looking for dancing, do not buy this DVD. The dance interludes are few and far between, and VERY BRIEF. Also, the stage sets are minimal and the costumes ugly. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ballet Fan

3.0 out of 5 stars Awkward mix that doesn't jell
After being disappointed in the recent "Dido" with Maria Ewing (see my review of that) I sought refuge in this newer production. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Robert Baksa

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   

Listmania!


Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide

IMDb Says...

Visit IMDb.com opens new browser window the Internet Movie Database, which is visited by millions of movie and tv lovers each month.
IMDb Logo

Look for Similar Items by Category

Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Movies & TV by subject:






i.e., each DVD must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...
 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.