Live Music at Bletchley Park - Opera: Dido and Aeneas

Alongside the frenetic war-time activities of the Bletchley Park Codebreakers flourished another series of activities – that of the Bletchley Park Music Society. Society events included gramophone concerts, choral groups, and more. Concerts with live musicians and singers were also put on and some of the famous names of the times would be invited to come and perform at the Assembly Hall, situated just outside the boundary of Bletchley Park.

In this ‘Concerts for Codebreakers’ event you will experience a semi-staged production of Purcell’s iconic opera Dido and Aeneas, like that performed in 1944 for the staff of Bletchley Park, alongside a presentation about the Musical Society.

The opera tells of the passionate love between Dido, Queen of Carthage, and the Trojan hero Aeneas and the tragedy that is brought about because of this infatuation. It is considered one of England’s first operatic masterpieces.

Enjoy insightful conversation and a cream tea.