Didone by Cavalli and Busenello: from the sources to modern productions

Abstract

Didone was the second significant operatic project carried out by the librettist Busenello and the composer Cavalli. However, its importance has until recently been underestimated. One of several misunderstandings is that the only extant score has erroneously been considered to be related to the Venetian premiere of the opera in 1641. Following the comparison of all surviving sources – including a previously unknown exemplar of the libretto printed in Naples – it is now possible to relate the Venetian score to the Neapolitan performance in 1650.