Dido and Aeneas
Before "Dido and Aeneas," Purcell had composed music for several stage works, including nine pieces for Nathaniel Lee's "Theodosius, or The Force of Love" (1680) and eight songs for Thomas d'Urfey's "A Fool's Preferment" (1688). He also composed songs for two plays by Nahum Tate (later the librettist of Dido and Aeneas), "The Sicilian Usurper" (1680) and "Cuckold's Haven" (1685). "Dido and Aeneas" was Purcell's first (and only) all-sung opera and derives from the English masque tradition.