Opera: Dido and Aeneas

by Henry Purcell
Teatro Massimo di Palermo 2026-02-20 ... 2026-02-24

From February 20 to 24, 2026, the Teatro Massimo Palermo presents Henry Purcell’s timeless masterpiece “Dido and Aeneas”, one of the earliest and most poignant English operas. Conducted by Gabriele Ferro and directed by Lorenzo Amato, the production tells the tragic love story of Dido, Queen of Carthage (Roberta Mantegna), and Aeneas, the Trojan hero (Zachary Altman).
Justin Arienti’s stage and costume designs, paired with Vincenzo Raponi’s lighting, create an evocative visual world that enhances Purcell’s rich and emotional score. With the Teatro Massimo Chorus and Orchestra under Chorus Master Salvatore Punturo, this new production offers an intimate yet powerful portrayal of love, destiny, and human fragility.

Teatro Massimo Travel Package

Music trip to Sicily with a performance at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo.
The Teatro Massimo is the largest opera house in Italy with a perfect acoustics and with magnificent reception rooms, galleries and monumental staircases. The neoclassical building dates back to the 19th century. The Teatro Massimo was the location for some scenes of the film “The Godfather” in which the godfather Michael Corleone attended the debut of his son in Pietro Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”.
Enjoy our music package with a magnificent performance and an exclusive leisure program in Palermo and Sicily. Choose a performance from the extensive program of operas, concerts and ballets and select between the essential package and add individual services that we offer with the superior program.

Story & Background of Dido and Aeneas

Composed around 1689, Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” is a cornerstone of English baroque opera. The libretto by Nahum Tate recounts the ill-fated love between Dido, Queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, the Trojan prince destined to found Rome.
Purcell’s music blends courtly grace and emotional depth, from lively dances to the immortal lament “When I am laid in earth”. In less than an hour, the opera captures the full spectrum of human emotion — desire, duty, and despair — through haunting melodies and expressive choruses.
The Teatro Massimo Palermo’s production reveals the enduring power of Purcell’s work, bringing to life a timeless story of love and loss with elegance, clarity, and dramatic intensity.

The Artists and Creative Team

Music • Henry Purcell
Conductor • Gabriele Ferro
Director • Lorenzo Amato
Scene and costume Designs • Justin Arienti
Lighting Designs • Vincenzo Raponi

Cast

Dido • Roberta Mantegna
Aeneas • Zachary Altman

Teatro Massimo Chorus and Orchestra
Chorus Master • Salvatore Punturo

A Teatro Massimo Production
Running time: 60 minutes

Booking Process

Music trip to Sicily with premium tickets for the opera Dido and Aeneas at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo.
The travel package contains 3 days with 2 overnights in a hotel in Palermo and will be composed according to your wishes. You can select between Essential and Superior Package and request more overnights and a following program to explore Sicily.

Each travel package will be composed according to your wishes. Follow the booking process:

Select a Date
Press “Add to cart” and “Send Request”
When we receive your booking request, you will get an individual offer with some hotels to choose from. Only after your decision, we send you a travel contract to confirm the booking.
Description of the Essential and Superior Package