Join us for a special concert performance of Henry Purcell's opera "Dido and Aeneas" with an all-East Coast cast.

MCO is delighted to present three in-concert presentations of Purcell’s early English opera Dido and Aeneas (composed around 1689), sung in English by a great cast of East Coast singers. Performances in Lunenburg and Halifax will be accompanied by the Blue Engine String Quartet on modern instruments conducted by music director Tara Scott.

 

Dido and Aeneas is based on Book IV of Virgil’s epic The Aeneid. It is one of the earliest known English operas, and one of the most important and often-performed operas written in the Baroque period. It is also Henry Purcell’s only true opera; that is, his only all-sung dramatic work. The poetry of the libretto is quite direct, and is by Nahum Tate, who was England’s Poet Laureate in 1692.

 

Because the opera itself was originally composed for a girl’s school, it’s a short, direct piece (about one hour long), with clear scenes telling the story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, who is wooed by Aeneas. In Tate’s version, a jealous Sorceress sends a spirit to Aeneas to command him to continue his journey to found Italy, and Dido, deserted, despairs and dies. The work includes some of the most beautiful arias and choruses ever written in English opera. Important for us, because we have an enthusiastic volunteer chorus, is that the chorus parts are varied and fun to sing. The chorus get to be, variously, members of Dido’s court, witches, sailors and mourners at Dido’s pyre.

The first half of the program will be a 45 minute recital of arias and duets from early English composers, roughly from Dowland to Handel. This gives an opportunity for the audiences to immerse themselves in the unique musical world of the the English Baroque before we get to the opera.

 

Singers include Nova Scotian mezzo Ellita Gagner (runner-up for the 2024 Hellstom Award) as Dido, Lunenburg native Samuel Ernst as Aeneas, Newfoundland soprano Claire Hartlen (runner-up for the 2025 Hellstrom Award) as Belinda, Nova Scotian mezzo Nina Scott-Stoddart as the Sorceress, Haligonian tenor Andrew Pelrine as the Sailor/Spirit and Nova Scotian soprano Hannah Meyerink as Second Woman/First Witch.

 

Music director Tara Scott conducts from the keyboard with the MCO Chorus adding their voices to the various ensembles as courtiers, sailors, witches and mourners.

 

Tickets:$35 at the door or online, student tickets available at the door. Buy tickets online at Eventbrite.