SSU Opera Scenes Presents
Dido and Aeneas - Henry Purcell
Conductor/Stage Director/Vocal Coach: Zachary Gordin
Dido: Lily Bogas
Belinda: Janelle Balico
Attendant: Anna Leach
Aeneas: Jack Adkins
Sorceress: Rachel Levin
1st Witch: Jennifer Silvera
2nd Witch: Alexandria Alonzo
Sailor: Mathew Adiao
Mercury: Joshua Lovell
Chorus: Principal cast with Martin Contreras, Anthony Macy, and Noah Evans.
Composer Henry Purcell's (1659-1695) first opera, and one of the earliest English operas, Dido and Aeneas was written around 1688 and premiered shortly after at the Josias Priest Girls School in London. The opera is based on the story of Dido and Aeneas from Book IV of Virgil's Latin Epic Poem, The Aeneid.
Dido, the widowed Queen of Carthage, entertains the Trojan Prince Aeneas, shipwrecked on his way to Italy. After Aeneas’ courtship and the urging of both Belinda and Dido’s attendant, the Queen finally gives in to the hope of a loving union. The two are united and Dido’s court rejoices with a hunting excursion. Led by an evil Sorceress, a coven of witches plot Dido’s destruction merely out of spite. They conjure a storm to break out when the royal couple are hunting, and order the impersonation of Mercury by one of her coven. The storm duly breaks and the courtiers hasten back to town, while the false Mercury tells Aeneas he must leave Dido and sail for Italy. Aeneas and his sailors prepare to leave, to the delight of the witches. Aeneas parts from Dido, who, grief-stricken ends her own life once he has gone.
The opera is musically exciting, full of powerful characters, and fast paced drama. This fully staged production will be presented in three acts, and has a run time of 60 minutes.