The core of the story is that of the widowed Dido feeling a revival of desire upon meeting the visiting warrior Aeneas. She loves, only to lose again when Aeneas is persuaded to sail away by a deceitful sorceress and her followers.
The women are the focal point and have numerous opportunities to shine. As Dido’s maiden Belinda, soprano Lindsay Ohse is a steady thread from beginning to end. She confidently leads the chorus urging Dido to open up to Aeneas and is there at Dido’s death.
Yes, spoiler alert, she dies in the end, but that shouldn’t be a big surprise. The lament of Dido’s final aria, “When I am laid in earth,” has enjoyed popular fame for more than 300 years as a peaceful resignation.