The opera is based on Part IV of Virgil's epic poem "Aeneid" where the author tells about the legendary Trojan hero Aeneas. The libretto was written by Nahum Tate. "Dido and Aeneas" is the first music drama by Purcell. The composer wrote it in 1689 by a special order to present it at the graduation ceremony of Josias Priest's Girls' School.
After being expelled from the Garden of Eden, men began to increase in number on the Earth. However, their evil deeds also increased in number. And the Lord repented that he had made man on the earth, and grieved in his heart. And the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air.”
After the flood, Noah's Ark rested on Mount Ararat. The blessing of God bestowed to the humankind in the person of Noah has not wavered, and His mercy upon Noah's generations has not diminished. Therefore, the covenant established through Noah is of unfading significance for all of us.
