Purcell's Dido & Aeneas

Sat 18 Apr 2009 7:30pm at Town Hall

New London Consort - Photo by Richard Haughton

Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas is an emotionally charged drama of love, death, fate and the supernatural. Tonight’s fully-staged performance celebrates the 350th anniversary of Purcell’s birth in 1659. It reveals the hopeless love of Dido, Queen of Carthage, like you’ve never heard it before: a stunning reconstruction of the 1700 Lincoln’s Inn Theatre revival of the opera, which reconstructs additional scenes and longlost music and is accompanied by a large and colourful orchestra of period instruments.

BBC music magazine’s editor, Oliver Condy, explains why he has recommended tonight’s concert:
“Before Elgar came along, Purcell was seen as England’s greatest composer. For many he still is – and Dido and Aeneas is his masterwork. Bringing it to sparkling life is the heady combination of one of the great authentic performance ensembles around today, a legendary director and some a brilliant cast of singers.”

BBC Music Magazine

6.15pm pre-concert talk

Tickets £5-£30

Please note that the choir area is bench seating, the benches are behind the stage area, and there is limited legroom and no back support. The view of the stage from this area is limited.

New London Consort
Philip Pickett conductor
Jonathan Miller director
Sue Lefton choreography, movement
Eskandar costumes
Julia Gooding Dido
Michael George Aeneas
Joanne Lunn Belinda