Saverio Mercadante: Didone Abbandonata – Viktorija Miškūnaitė

Giuseppe Saverio Mercadante was a contemporary of Donizetti and Rossini, and his prolific output of operas proved influential in founding dramatic techniques that were taken on by Verdi. Set in the ancient and besieged city of Carthage, Didone abbandonata is the dramatic and tragic tale of ill-starred lovers whose decisions ultimately place an entire populace in peril. A genuine rarity in the theatre, Didone has strong ties to the 18th century but also points towards the bel canto innovations that were to come. This carefully researched and critically acclaimed production presents the work in the sound and playing style of Mercadante’s time.

The tragic heroine is explored with a blend of facility and expressivity by Lithuanian soprano Viktorija Miškūnaitė. Flimm’s production mixes periods liberally, and though sometimes its ironic tone gets in the way, the story is effectively told and one becomes increasingly gripped. — BBC Music Magazine, September 2019, 4 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 3 out of 5 stars (Picture & Sound)