MidAtlantic Opera and Seton Hall University Present Purcell's DIDO AND AENEAS, Now thru 5/4

The MidAtlantic Opera Company and Seton Hall University co-present a fully-staged production of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, conducted and stage directed by Jason C. Tramm. Performances begin tonight, May 1, 2014 at the South Orange Performing Arts Center, and will be presented over four performances through May 4.

The cast features mezzo-soprano Janara Kellerman (New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Opera) as Dido, baritone Charles Schneider (Washington National Opera, The Princeton Festival) as Aeneas, and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Grohowski (Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera) as the Sorceress.

Joining the principals onstage will be students from Seton Hall University, performing all supporting roles as well as the large ensemble for this early masterwork.

According to Dr. Tramm, Artistic Director of MidAtlantic Opera and Director of Choral Activities at Seton Hall, "it is exciting to present a production that combines established operatic performers with talented student artists. The result is inspirational for both and is an educational experience of the highest caliber. This production marks Seton Hall's first fully staged operatic production in recent history and will be one to remember."

Dido and Aeneas was first performed in 1689 and premiered at Josias Priest's Boarding School for Girls in the Chelsea section of London. The story unfolds as Aeneas, the son of Venus and Anchises of Troy, flees his home after it is sacked by the Greeks. Aeneas and his crew are shipwrecked in Carthage, where the legendary Queen Dido is mourning her dead husband to whom she has sworn eternal fidelity. Dido and Aeneas meet and fall in love. But Fate has decreed that Aeneas found a new nation and he must leave the queen. Aeneas must soon leave to found Rome.

Not found in Virgil's source material are the Sorceress and a coven of witches that were added by the librettist, Tate. These characters plot to cause Dido's ruin.

All performances of Dido and Aeneas will take place at 8:00 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and at 2:00pm on Sunday May 4th. Tickets are free for Seton Hall students, $24 general admission, $14 for seniors and SHU alumni, and $7 for other students. Tickets may be purchased online at WWW.SOPACNOW.ORG, through the SOPAC Box Office [One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ, 7079], or by phone at 973-313-ARTS (2787).

Dido and Aeneas features a libretto by Nahum Tate. It will be performed in English and has a running time of approximately one hour.

For further information about Dido and Aeneas and MidAtlantic Opera's 2014 season, please visit www.midatlanticopera.org.

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