Friday and Saturday, April 14 and 15, 2023
Friday 8 p.m. | Saturday 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The Ohio State University School of Music
College of Arts and Sciences
Timashev Family Music Building | Weigel Auditorium
OHIO STATE OPERA THEATRE
presents
Dido and Aeneas
Music by Henry Purcell
Libretto by Nahum Tate, after Virgil's Aeneid
Première Performance: Josias Priest’s Girls School in London, 1698
Eric Gibson, director
Miriam Burns, conductor
Jae Park, assistant conductor (Saturday evening)
Ed Bak, music director/head vocal coach
Eric Gibson, production designer
Braden Graves, lighting designer
Malik Khalfani, stage manager
Bram Wayman, chorus master/vocal coach
CAST
* Thursday dress/Saturday evening
+ Friday evening/Saturday afternoon
Prologue
Karenna Peterson/Anne McEvoy *
Anne McEvoy +
Dido, Queen of Carthage
Stephanie Ranallo *
Jenna Hunnicutt +
Aeneas, Trojan Hero
Nick Denino *
Darren Templeton +
Belinda, Dido’s lady-in-waiting
Dana Carlson-Kottke *
Leigha Schumaker +
Second Woman, Dido’s lady-in-waiting
Sophia Longo *
Samantha Sayar +
Sorceress, Dido’s hated enemy
Anabella Petronsi
Witches
Bella Gabriel and Natalie Mahalla *
Isabella Parks and Paige McHenry +
Sailor
Delaney-Rose Ramsey *
Roman Wentzel +
Spirit
Marlon Haughton
Dancer, Spirit of young Dido
Lauren Patterson
Chorus of Courtiers, Witches and Sailors
Molly Beetem, Ryan Bieryla, Sid Fernandes, Abigail Haffey, Emma Kelley, Karenna Peterson, Paul Renner, Shreyas Sunder, Cece Vasey, Ariyah Wallace, Harrison Wolfhope
ORCHESTRA
Devin Copfer, violin 1
Elizabeth Fisher, violin 2
Emily Way, viola
Sam Johnson, cello
Aidan Terry, double bass
Sean Ferguson, theorbo
SYNOPSIS
Act One
Scene I
The widow Dido is comforted by her maid Belinda who encourages her to shake her grief. Belinda and another attendant encourage Dido to unite with Aeneas for — if nothing else — the strength of the monarchy.
Dido and Aeneas meet and agree to join “for Empire’s Sake.”
Scene 2
The Queen of Carthage, Dido, is hated by the Sorceress and her two witches. They plot to kill the lovers by hatching a scheme to separate the lovers. They enlist the aid of a trusted elf, disguised as Mercury, to enact the plot.
Act Two
Scene 1
Dido and Aeneas, joined by their court, enjoy an afternoon of hunting and relaxing on the grounds. A storm threatens their sanctuary.
After fleeing clouded skies, the court returns to the palace, but Aeneas is warned by the Spirit to obey the gods' command to create a new Troy on Latin ground.
Act Three
Scene 1
A drunken Sailor prepares to head Aeneas’ travels and the Trojan fleet. Delighted the plan has taken shape, the Sorceress and her witches revel in the destruction of Aeneas at sea, and of Dido’s soon-broken heart.
Scene 2
Upon learning Aeneas will obey the gods and leave her, Dido casts Aeneas aside. Though Aeneas swears to disobey the gods' decree, Dido rejects his offer. Aeneas leaves and Dido ends her life.
SPECIAL THANKS
Michael Ibrahim, Director of the School of Music
The Ohio State Department of Theatre for the gift of the throne
Chad Mahan, Department of Theatre
Andrew Newbold and the Department of Art for lending space for production needs
Susan Hadley, Ohio State Emeritus Dance Faculty
Winter Opera St. Louis for lending the gold fabric backdrops
Greek and Roman drape supplied by The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Talent, Oregon and created by numerous designers
Sean Ferguson for his historical music perspective
Susan Powell for the donation of the tambourines
Arved Ashby for the loan of props
Tim Donel, Production Manager
Anna Victor, Production Assistant
Ohio State School of Music Student Stage Crew
Savenda Fulton, Jackie Shreves, Eva Banks, Tami Morris, Jayne Allison
In recognition of Tristan Hejl and Katerina Warner for their hard work and participation in the rehearsal process
Scott A. Jones, Russel C. Mikkelson, Susan Powell, Mike Smith and others for accommodating opera rehearsals in Weigel Auditorium
The voice faculty — Helen Allen, Andrew Blosser, Lara Brooks, Laura Portune (area head) and Katherine Rohrer — for their support of the production
Join us…
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