The belief that ‘the end of music is to move human affections’ (Descartes, Compendium musicae) has been a central issue in European musical thought since Plato. Opera was invented to recover the power of Ancient music to move the human heart, and its history is a permanent exploration of the capacity of action, words and music to convey emotions.
The DIDONE Project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), stands as a pioneering endeavour dedicated to unravelling the intricacies of emotional expression within the realm of 18th-century opera seria. By bridging the realms of academic inquiry and public engagement, DIDONE not only enriches our understanding of musical history but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the enduring legacy of opera seria as a quintessential art form of the European cultural landscape.
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