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I believe I have (or know about) every recording of this great opera. At the moment, there are only one recording I do not have (at least that I know about. It's on Globe (Globe 5020)

Here is the list of the CDs I currently have, with some comments on each:

I believe this is the first complete recording of this opera ever. The sound is actually very good consider it was recorded in 1935. The performance is very good, much better than many of the recordings listed below. The only problem is that you can't get hold of this performance anywhere. It's not released on CD, and I don't know if it has ever been released on LP either. But, if you one day should see it in a music store, go get it! My hope is that someone will release it on CD one day.

Coming soon.

   This is the only non-English recording I know. It's sung in German.

I love Benjamin Britten's music, so I was very glad to discover that he recorded this opera. Purcell was Britten's musical hero,so it was only natural that did this. He made his own realization of it (together with Imogen Holst), and this is the only recording as far as I know of, of this version.

This recording is from 1959, and the mono sound is not among the very best. It's a full price recording, but it does not include the libretto. It's also only six tracks on the CD, which I find annoying.

The performances are very good. Another reason for having this recording is to hear Peter Pears as Aeneas. He does a splendid job. This recording may not be as good as some of the others, but it's a CD there should be room for in any Purcell collection.

This recording is one the best ever of this opera. Janet Baker is a wonderful Dido and she couldn't possibly sing any better than she does here. Also the sound is good. It's an old recording, but the sound is very satisfying. This is the best recording available today, together with Christie's 2nd recording (on Erato). There could also been more CD tracks. It's only divided into 17 tracks, while others have around 35-40 (which is much better).

This is an ok recording, not more or not less. I am not too impressed with the Lament. The sound is also ok. It has also the most interesting libretto. It's a reprinting of (what seems to be) the 1689 libretto.

This is one the better recordings, and there are also some great names among the soloists, not to mention the conductor! It's very exciting to hear Barbirolli conduct this opera, as he has done very much good with British music from this century (his Elgar and Delius recordings are very good). Maybe not the best recording, it's still a very good one. It's very much recommended.

This recording is also available in a box (the Purcell Collection, 8CD). This a rather good recording, and the sound is very good. I am very pleased with it, and you can do worse thing in life than buying this recording!

This is another one of those rather good, but not among the greatest of the recordings. The sound is good.

The first thing you notice about this recording, is the awful sound. I have problems with enjoying this CD because of it. The Berlioz extracts has much better sound than the Dido. I am not very impressed with this recording.

This is a very good recording, atleast among the top 10. It's Troyanos 2nd recording, and she is a very good Dido. It's also worth mentioning that Philip Langridge is singing the role of sailor. The sound is good.

This is a very good recording, and one the very best. Emma Kirkby is a very good Dido. There are a few negative things about this CD. There are no libretto, and there are only four CD tracks. Both these thing are not acceptable in a full price recording. Despite this, it's a great recording!

This is a good performance. Maybe not the best, but definitely not the worst. It's also good to have Harnoncourt's interpretation of this work. The sound is also good.

This is another one of those recordings with a big name in the lead. I have never been a great fan of Jessye Norman, but she does a good job here. In my opinion, her voice isn't perfect for Dido. There are many Dido's I would have preferred before her.

This is one of the few non-English speaking casts. Most of the soloists are French, but you don't hear it very much. This is a very good recording, and almost as good as the one with Kirkby. Guillmette Laurens does a very good job as Dido, and Christie do also a very good job. Highly recommended.

Anne Sofie von Otter are one of the great stars of today, and she makes a very nice performance here. I have seen Lynne Dawson in concert singing Dido, so I know that she can be a marvellous Dido. She sings Belinda very well here. Also a very recommended recording.

This is another one of those good but not to impressive recordings. I am not to happy with the lament, it could have been better.

John Eliot Gardiner has been one of my favourite conductors for a long time, so it's very good to see that he also has recorded this opera. I don't know much about Carolyn Watkinson, but she does a very good job as Dido. This is a highly recommended recording. It's also very nice to see that they have included a filler.

This is an all-Dutch recording, and with (for me) only unknown soloists. It's also not generally available. I think you must get to Holland to get it (I got it from a friend living there). It's actually a descent recording. Maybe not the best, but you can do worse.

Catherine Bott is a very impressive Dido, and she sings very good. She makes this one of the best Didos. Maybe not as good as Baker and Gens, but she is clearly among the very best.

 Lorraine Hunt is a very impressive Dido, and I would recommend this over the first one on the same label. Also one of the best recordings available today.

This is the cheapest recording you can get. You also get a good magazine with it! This is actually a rather good recording, and better than many of the "normal" recordings. 

Here we have the best of them all (together with Janet Baker on Decca)! This is a wonderful recording, and Veronique Gens is a great Dido. I am very happy that Christie made his second recording! It's going to be difficult to get any better than this. I can't recommend this recording too much.

I have never really liked this recording, and it's because of Maria Ewing as Dido. She is not too good in the video either, where she shows very little emotions in her singing. The video itself is good, but not Ewing's acting. It's a film version, and not a stage recording, so it's easy to follow the action. If you would like to have this recording, get the video as you then add another dimension to the music.

This is a very interesting recording because they have tried to restore some of the "wrong-doings" on earlier performances. They have included several instrumental pieces and changed who should some of the arias. Also, Jennifer Lane performs well. A good performance.

This is the soundtrack of an all-male ballet. I have seen it on TV, and I can't say I liked it too much. A little bit to strange for me. The recording itself are very good, and I believe that Jennifer Lane sings better here than on her Vox recording. This is also the only recording of Dido & Aeneas with a female conductor.

This is one of the the newest recordings of this opera, but not among the best. It's a good one, but I am not to happy with Maultsby as Dido. I prefer my Dido not to be so low as she is.

I have been waiting for the Scholars baroque ensemble to record Dido & Aeneas for a long time now. After I heard their recordings of The Messiah and St. John passion, both on Naxos, I have wanted them to record this opera. So, it was with great anticipation I bought this new recording. They didn't let me down. This is a very good recording! It might not be the very best, but it's not far from it. Kym Amps is a very good Dido. It's also very good to have such a good recording available at such low price. It's a highly recommended recording.

A link to the Dido & Aeneas page on the Naxos homepage.

This is the same recording as the BBC Music Magazine CD mentioned above.

I have been waiting for Lynne Dawson to record this opera for a long time, and I am very glad to finally be able to listen to her Dido on CD. She does a very good Dido. It's also worth mentioning that this recording is one of the longest at almost one hour. Very good recording and warmly recommended.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

Coming soon.

See the book section for further info on this book.

If you know of any other recordings (or relevant books) with Dido & Aeneas other than the ones mentioned here, tell me! I would be very much interested in getting more recordings.

Here is a link to the full score. You can buy the full score here

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Copyright © 2004 Tore Frantzvåg Steenslid
Last updated: 24.02.2007