SDSU Lyric Opera Theatre Presents Dido and Aeneas
Contents
SDSU Lyric Opera Theatre presents Dido and Aeneas, an opera in three acts by Henry Purcell with a libretto by Nahum Tate.This is a story of love, loss, and redemption.
Introduction
Dido and Aeneas is an opera in a prologue and three acts, written by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell with a libretto by Nahum Tate. The story is based on Virgil’s epic poem, the Aeneid, and tells the story of Dido, the Queen of Carthage, and her love for the Trojan hero Aeneas. The opera was first performed in 1689 at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London.
What is Dido and Aeneas?
Dido and Aeneas is an opera in three acts, written by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell with a libretto by Nahum Tate. The story takes place in Carthage, where, at the instigation of the Evil Sorceress, Aeneas is persuaded to abandon his dying lover, Dido, and leave for Italy, despite her pleas. Unsurprisingly, she is distraught and kills herself.
What is the Lyric Opera Theatre?
The Lyric Opera Theatre at San Diego State University is a student-run organization that aims to produce quality operatic productions and provide students with practical experience in all aspects of opera production. Founded in fall 2009, the Lyric Opera Theatre has produced six fully-staged operas and two children’s operas. We are dedicated to providing opportunities for students to grow artistically and professionally while making opera accessible to the community.
History
SDSU Lyric Opera Theatre will be presenting Dido and Aeneas, an opera by Henry Purcell with a libretto by Nahum Tate. The opera is based on the story of Dido, the Queen of Carthage, and her love for the Trojan prince Aeneas. The opera will be performed in English with a piano accompaniment.
Dido and Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas is an opera in a prologue and three acts, written by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell with a libretto by Nahum Tate. The story was adapted from Virgil’s epic poem the Aeneid. It was Purcell’s only full-length opera and is considered by many today to be his finest work.
The Lyric Opera Theatre
The Lyric Opera Theatre at San Diego State University is the resident opera company of San Diego State University. The company was founded in 1953 by Harold Christensen and teaches aspiring young singers the art of opera. The company has produced many American and world premieres, including Mark Blitzstein’s Regina, Leonard Bernstein’s A Quiet Place, Philip Glass’ Galileo Galilei, and John Adams’ The Death of Klinghoffer.
What to Expect
SDSU Lyric Opera Theatre will be performing Dido and Aeneas, an opera by Henry Purcell. The opera will be conducted by Maestro Timothy Myers and directed by Sam Woodhouse. It will be performed in the Don Powell Theatre on April 27 and 29.
Dido and Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas is an opera in a prologue and three acts, written by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell with a libretto by Nahum Tate. The story is based on Book IV of Virgil’s epic poem, the Aeneid. It was Purcell’s only stage work that was completed and performed in his lifetime.
The first known performance was on 4 November 1689 at Josias Priest’s girls’ school in London. Dido and Aeneas subsequently became one of Purcell’s most celebrated works, enjoyed by London audiences for generations after his death. Today, it is widely considered to be one of the finest operas in existence and continues to be performed regularly by professional and amateur companies around the world.
The Lyric Opera Theatre
The Lyric Opera Theatre at San Diego State University is committed to providing students with the opportunity to work on mainstage operatic productions. Each season, the Lyric Opera Theatre produces two full-length operas and various opera scenes programs. The season typically runs from October through May.
Dido and Aeneas is an opera in three acts, written by Henry Purcell with a libretto by Nahum Tate. The story is based on Book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid. It recounts the love of Dido, Queen of Carthage, for the Trojan Prince Aeneas, and her despair when he abandons her. Aeneas is ordered by Jupiter to found a city in Italy and leave Dido, but her love for him is so strong that she cannot bear his leaving and kills herself.
The opera was first performed in 1689 at Josias Priest’s girls’ school in Chelsea. Purcell did not live to see the premiere as he died on 21 November 1695, aged 36, just nine days after Dido’s first performance.
Conclusion
The opera Dido and Aeneas by Purcell was a very thought-provoking and emotionally driven story. The music was beautiful and the acting was superb. I would highly recommend this opera to anyone who is looking for an evening of entertainment.
Dido and Aeneas
The SDSU Lyric Opera Theatre will be performing Dido and Aeneas on October 18th and 19th in the Don Powell Theatre. The opera, which is being staged by Heidi Aho, is based on the story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and her tragic love for the Trojan Prince Aeneas. The opera features a libretto by Henry Purcell and was first performed in 1689.
This will be the first time that Dido and Aeneas has been performed at SDSU, and it is sure to be an enjoyable experience for all who attend. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for seniors, students, and military personnel.
The Lyric Opera Theatre
The Lyric Opera Theatre is the premiere Opera and Musical Theatre Company of San Diego State University. We are committed to producing high quality, professional-caliber productions that educate, entertain and inspire our campus and community.
We strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, faculty and staff involved in our productions. Our goal is to provide a creative outlet for all to explore their passion for the performing arts, while building lifelong friendships and memories.
We are proud to present Dido and Aeneas, an opera by Henry Purcell with a libretto by Nahum Tate. This production is directed by Bruce McIntosh, with music direction by Jennifer Joe, choreography by Eliza Carlson and stage management by Kaitlyn Dierolf.
We would like to thank all of our supporters for their continued belief in the value of live theatre. We would also like to express our gratitude to the SDSU School of Music and Dance for their generous financial contribution to this production.
