Pamela Helen Stephen as Dido and Philip Rhodes as Aeneas. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Pamela Helen Stephen as Dido with dancers and witches (l-r). Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Pamela Helen Stephen as Dido with dancers and witches (r-l). Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Pamela Helen Stephen as Dido. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Pamela Helen Stephen as Dido. Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
Pamela Helen Stephen as Dido (centre). Photo credit: Tristram Kenton
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Henry Purcell (1689)
New production
Aeneas, a Trojan prince who has escaped the devastation of his city at the hands of the Greeks, lands in Carthage where Dido is queen. She falls deeply in love with him, but evil forces are at work, bent on her destruction. Aeneas is tricked into abandoning her, and overwhelmed with grief, she dies.
Purcell takes a universal epic and makes of it an intimate human drama, packing a magnificently rich variety of music into the work’s hour-long duration, much of it composed expressly to be danced. This concise masterpiece stood unchallenged as the finest English opera for more than three centuries and there is still no more powerfully moving expression of noble resignation in the face of death than Dido’s great lament ‘When I am laid in earth’.
Aletta Collins directs this new production. Pamela Helen Stephen, who sang the title role in Opera North’s recent production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare, heads the cast that also includes Amy Freston, Heather Shipp and Jake Arditti.
Sung in English
Lasts approximately 1 hour
Dido and Aeneas is presented in a double-bill with La Voix Humaine with a 25 minute interval between the productions.
Click on a venue below to find out more information.
Full information can be found here.
On sale dates for Leeds Grand Theatre
Booking for fixed subscriptions opens 28 May and booking for multibuy ticket packages opens 18 June. Priority booking for Friends of Opera North and Groups opens 9 July.
All tickets will be on public sale on 16 July 2012.
On sale dates for The Lowry
Booking for multibuy ticket packages opens 14 June. Priority booking for Friends of Opera North and My Lowry opens 28 June.
All tickets will be on public sale on 5 July 2012.
On sale dates for Theatre Royal Nottingham
Booking for multibuy ticket packages opens 11 June. Priority booking for Friends of Opera North opens 25 June.
All tickets will be on public sale on 2 July 2012.
We’ve teamed up with Piazza by Anthony in Leeds to offer you an exclusive pre-theatre menu. Enjoy 2 Courses for £17.95 or 3 Courses for £21.95. Please use the promotion code ‘OPERANORTH’ when booking your table online or by calling 0113 2470995. This special offer is also available without booking, simply turn up and show your opera tickets to the receptionist.
Available from 4pm until 7pm every night between Wednesday 16th January and Saturday 23rd February 2013 , and From 12pm until 4pm on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th February 2013. Only valid on the day of the performance your ticket is for. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Enjoy 20% off your bill at Sandinista (Cross Belgrave Street - New Briggate) on presentation of your Opera North ticket when placing their food order. To book a table call 0113 305 0372. Food is served till 10pm through the week with final orders at 9pm Friday and Saturday. Only valid on the day of the performance their ticket is for. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Just a short walk from the theatre, another fantastic dining option is The Reliance (76-78 North Street).Treat yourself to the pre-theatre menu served between 5:30 and 6:30pm, Mon - Sat. Enjoy 2 courses for £13.95 or 3 courses for £17.90. Call 0113 2956060 to book a table.
Why not make a night of it and enjoy a pre-show meal at The Lowry Restaurant? You can have your theatre programmes delivered to your table, pre-order your interval drinks or return for dessert and coffee during the interval. Call 0161 876 2121 to reserve your table.
Enjoy a two course pre-theatre meal at Pasqualino’s for just £15.50 or £13 for Friends. Available 5.30pm. Call the Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 to book.
Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. T&Cs apply.
Nahum Tate, better known for writing the words to the Christmas Carol 'While Shepherds Watched', wrote the libretto for this opera.
All discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Discounts cannot be used retrospectively. Only one discount per ticket. Proof of eligibility must be shown.
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Comment from Opera North
Opera North said ago
Dear Simon.
Very disappointed that you didn't enjoy either production - and that they didn't grow on you. This is probably not what you want to hear: We consider Aletta Collins as one of the most talented and exciting directors working in opera today, so will hopefully continue to work with her. She has worked with Sir Simon Rattle on a new production of Carmen for last year's Salzburg festival for instance - which was lauded in the European press. It would be fantastic if you were to give her another chance
Comment from simon
simon said ago
we saw Dido late in February. I have left commenting until now, in case time would heal. it hasn't. this was a horrible production. it replaced the basic drama with supposedly expressive gesturing, reminiscent of that stuff, years ago, on Top of the Pops. Voix humaine wasn't much better. the obsessive faffing about seemed embarrassed about having a woman on stage alone. I have made a note to keep my eyes open for this director's name, in order to avoid any future productions.
Comment from Prue
Prue said ago
Thoroughly enjoyed this evening's performance..entranced by Lesley G (the orchestra was a bit loud) and bowled over by the whole cast of Dido - beautiful dancing witches too!
Comment from Helen
Helen said ago
As relative newcomer to Opera, I hadn't seen either of the pieces staged before. I found Lesley Garret's performance technically stunning, holding my attention throughout quite a challenging piece. The links to Dido and Aeneas were intelligently thought through and as a programme I found the combination worked splendidly. I still get the beginners thrill of recognising pieces so particularly enjoyed 'when I am laid in earth'. What made my evening , however, was having the great good fortune to sit next to a group from Street wise Opera. I hadn't heard of this project which brings together people facing great challenges in their lives to perform opera. The group, who are based at Manchester Cathedral, have recently performed Dido and Aeneas. They were knowledgeable and passionate about the piece and really helped my appreciation of the work. When I heard their stories and how this project had helped them gain confidence , self esteem and improve their circumstances, I was humbled and inspired. I look forward to seeing the group again at the Royal Exchange where they are participating in 'to kill a Mocking Bird' and to finding out more about this project.
So thank you Opera North for a great evening, it gave me so much more than I imagined.
Comment from Veronica Whitty
Veronica Whitty said ago
Your production of Dido and Aeneas at Newcastle last night was stunning. Both the singing and the production were blended to a perfect spectacle. Congratulations and thank you.
Comment from RH Lincolnshire
RH Lincolnshire said ago
We loved Dido and Aeneas and Lesly Garrett!! I especially liked the way you referenced La Voix Humaine with the costume and set. We enjoyed beingt challenged with something diofferent and the dance elements were very effective - great stuff thankyou!
Comment from Opera North
Opera North said ago
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We're delighted that you enjoyed La voix humaine and very disappointed that you didn't like Dido and Aeneas. We think that it's an excellent piece, but Purcell isn't for everyone.
Comment from Stephen Blower
Stephen Blower said ago
Very well staged but it has to be the most boring piece ever.
Lesley Garrett was amazing and I would have been happy just to have seen her rather than suffer Dido and whatever
Comment from John
John said ago
Absolutely brilliant performance this afternoon, loved it!
Comment from dido and aeneas
dido and aeneas said ago
I so very much enjoy your ballet productions over the
last few years, my praise to David Nixon.
We live in Surrey and use the Woking Theatre.
Please please bring Dido & Aeneas to somewhere
around here.