"Dido and Aeneas" is an opera composed by Henry Purcell and premiered in 1689. It is based on the classical myth of the love between Dido, Queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, the Trojan hero. The opera combines elements of tragedy and lyricism, portraying Dido's emotional conflict as she struggles to come to terms with the loss of her beloved, who is forced to leave her in search of a new homeland. Using rich harmonies and complex instrumentation, Purcell creates an atmosphere of intense drama on stage and also introduces elements of folklore and Baroque style. The opera's music is full of moving arias and choruses that emphasise the depth of the characters' feelings. "Dido and Aeneas" is considered one of the most important works in the history of English opera, combining the beauty of the music and the power of the narrative.

Performers:
Soloists and orchestra of Varmia Musica Academia
Zbigniew Pilch - artistic direction, violin
Anna Mikołajczyk - Vocal preparation, soprano
Court Dance Ensemble under the direction of Tatiana Asmolkova
Marta Czarkowska - vocal ensemble preparation, soprano

The orchestra's line-up will include:
Ewa Mrowca - harpsichord
Anna Swoboda - lute
Marek Niewiedział - oboe
Tomasz Wesołowski - bassoon
Jakub Kościukiewicz - cello
Piotr Chrupek - viola

Organised since 2005, Varmia Musica Academia is a music workshop dedicated to historical interpretations of the works of the old masters. The courses are designed for students, pupils and professional musicians wishing to expand their knowledge of rhetorical performance. The week-long workshop will culminate in a concert performance of Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas, in a special version prepared exclusively for the Varmia Musica festival. Work on the work takes place according to the principle of 'side by side', i.e. with the joint and creative collaboration of pedagogues and Varmia Musica Academia participants.