• Joseph Martin Kraus. Lyric tragedy in a prologue and five acts. 1799.
• Libretto by Johan Henrik Kellgren, following a suggested outline by Gustavus III and the play Didon by Jean-Jacques Le Franc de Pompignan.
• First performance at the Royal Opera, Stockholm, on 18th November 1799.

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CHARACTERS

Eol (Aeolus)	bass
Neptune	bass
Juno	soprano
Venus	soprano
Aeneas	tenor
Queen Dido	soprano
Siché (Sychaeus), the ghost of Dido’s first husband	bass
Jarbas, King of Numidia	tenor or baritone
Ära	soprano
Clelié (Cloelia), Dido’s servant	soprano
Iris	soprano
Jupiter	baritone

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In the prologue Aeolus, god of the winds, is persuaded by Juno to release them in order to wreck the Trojan fleet of Aeneas. The waves are calmed by Neptune, and Aeneas lands on the shore of Carthage, where his mother, Venus, tells him to seek the aid of Queen Dido. Dido welcomes the Trojans, who assist at the dedication of a temple to Juno which the goddess rejects. A royal hunt is interrupted by a storm, during which Dido and Aeneas shelter in a cave, their vows of love disrupted by the appearance of the ghost of Dido’s dead husband, Sychaeus. Jarbas, King of Numidia, arrives, disguised as his own ambassador but rejected as a suitor by Dido. The marriage of Dido and Aeneas at the temple of Juno is prevented by an earthquake and a spirit orders Aeneas to leave Carthage, which he prepares to do, in spite of Dido’s protestations. Her servant Cloelia brings news of imminent attack by Jarbas, who is killed in battle by Aeneas. Dido, at first hopeful, sees the Trojan ships sailing away and kills herself. The goddess Iris brings news of her apotheosis and she is finally welcomed into Olympus by Jupiter.

Aeneas i Cartago is of particular importance in the history of Swedish music and opera, and is strongly influenced by Gluck, while anticipating to some extent later trends in German opera.