The Festival

In August 2022, the Palacio de Elsedo in Pámanes, a stunning and unique Contemporary Art Museum, opened its doors to the public for the first time to host the inaugural edition of the Maskarade Opera Festival (then known as the 'Palacio de Elsedo Classical Music Festival'). The highlight of the program was Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas, based on the love story from Book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid, which tells the tale of the legendary Queen of Carthage, Dido, and the Trojan refugee, Aeneas. When Aeneas and his men are shipwrecked in Carthage, he and the queen fall in love. However, envious witches conspire against Dido, tricking Aeneas into believing that his destiny is to leave and rebuild Troy. Heartbroken, Dido mourns her love and, when Aeneas chooses to stay, she tragically rejects him and allows herself to die.

For this Opera Studio, singers from around the world gathered to debut operatic roles on stage, providing them with the opportunity to refine their musical training step by step and fully prepare for the demands of modern opera houses. Under the artistic direction of Cristina Domínguez Sar, with musical direction by Christian Frattima, founder of the Baroque opera company Coin du Roi, and in collaboration with vocal coach and pianist Natasha Belenova, a 70-minute production of Dido and Aeneas was meticulously crafted, with every detail carefully attended to.

The premiere at the Palacio de Elsedo was designed to offer spectators an intimate experience of Purcell’s opera, making full use of one of the rooms in this exceptional contemporary art museum. The combination of operatic singers, a small chamber orchestra, and the audience created an immersive atmosphere, allowing attendees to experience the story on a deeply personal level. Beyond the music and performances, the event was a rare encounter with an art form that transcends time and expectations, guiding audiences through the rich cultural and emotional landscape of Baroque opera.