2008 Woodie Awards
Opera workshop brings classic to Humboldt State
Henry Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas' an English classic
Karina Gianola
Issue date: 4/11/07 Section: Scene
- Page 1 of 2 next >
For twelve weeks the cast of the Humboldt State University Opera Workshop worked developing characters, costumes and their own set to bring us Henry Purcell's classic tale, "Dido and Aeneas."
The for-credit opera production worked with the Humboldt Symphony to bring the centuries-old English opera to the Fulkerson Recital Hall on April 13 and 14. Director Elisabeth Harrington said the opera workshop chose this performance because it has a large number of women's roles and is very open to artistic interpretation.
"We've been given a great deal of freedom to develop our characters," said lead performer Sarah Benzinger.
"Dido and Aeneas" was first performed in 1689 at Josias Priest's Boarding School for Women in London as Henry Purcell's adaptation of Virgil's epic "Aeneid."
It's the story of Dido, the widowed queen of Carthage, falling in love with the Trojan warrior Aeneas when he comes to Carthage, fleeing the decimation of the Trojan War. Jealous of their happiness, a sorceress conjures a spirit to pose as a god and urge Aeneas to leave Carthage and found the city of Rome. Stricken by grief, Dido takes her own life as the man she loves leaves to found the civilization that will ultimately lay waste to her own.
Harrington said the opera was written in the Baroque period, an artistic style characterized by small, rhythmic lines recited at a speed close to ordinary speech. It is also the only opera written in England before the 20th century that is still performed today.
Of the opera workshop's 29 performers, many have never performed opera before. "'Dido and Aeneas' was written for a girl's school in England, so it's meant for new singers," Harrington said.
Performer Sara Young said Harrington gives a lot of direction, but is also open to suggestions. The show is not only performed but entirely produced by the class, from the set to the costumes. The performers seem enthusiastic and appreciative of the whole experience.
The for-credit opera production worked with the Humboldt Symphony to bring the centuries-old English opera to the Fulkerson Recital Hall on April 13 and 14. Director Elisabeth Harrington said the opera workshop chose this performance because it has a large number of women's roles and is very open to artistic interpretation.
"We've been given a great deal of freedom to develop our characters," said lead performer Sarah Benzinger.
"Dido and Aeneas" was first performed in 1689 at Josias Priest's Boarding School for Women in London as Henry Purcell's adaptation of Virgil's epic "Aeneid."
It's the story of Dido, the widowed queen of Carthage, falling in love with the Trojan warrior Aeneas when he comes to Carthage, fleeing the decimation of the Trojan War. Jealous of their happiness, a sorceress conjures a spirit to pose as a god and urge Aeneas to leave Carthage and found the city of Rome. Stricken by grief, Dido takes her own life as the man she loves leaves to found the civilization that will ultimately lay waste to her own.
Harrington said the opera was written in the Baroque period, an artistic style characterized by small, rhythmic lines recited at a speed close to ordinary speech. It is also the only opera written in England before the 20th century that is still performed today.
Of the opera workshop's 29 performers, many have never performed opera before. "'Dido and Aeneas' was written for a girl's school in England, so it's meant for new singers," Harrington said.
Performer Sara Young said Harrington gives a lot of direction, but is also open to suggestions. The show is not only performed but entirely produced by the class, from the set to the costumes. The performers seem enthusiastic and appreciative of the whole experience.
Be the first to comment on this story