Baroque Double Bill
Dido & Aeneas | Acis & Galatea
30, 31 MAY 2025, 7PM
ENSEMBLE ORQUESTA OPERA ACADEMY
Dido & Aeneas
PURCELL
Acis & Galatea
HANDEL
30, 31 MAY 2025, 7PM
ENSEMBLE ORQUESTA OPERA ACADEMY
The Cockpit, Marylebone
Performed in English
Marcio da Silva Stage/Music Director Kieran White Style Coach Predrag Gosta Music Director/Harpsichord Andreas Levisianos Conductor Marjorie Lemos Assistant Director
Ensemble OrQuesta Baroque Matthew Millkey | Sara Matovic Violin Ana Torbica Viola Pablo Tejedor-Gutierrez Cello Paul Jenkins Recorder Lysander Tennant Oboe Kate Bingham Oboe/Recorder Louis Moisan Theorbo/Baroque Guitar
Dido & Aeneas
Silvija Radjen | Alice Fontanella Dido Marcio da Silva Aeneas Jenna Weitman, Irina Kalderon Belinda Israel Romero Silva | Juliet Telford Sorcerer/Sorceress Tara Venkatesan 2nd Woman Lydia Ward | Holly Slater 1st Witch Sofia Galvão 2nd Witch Arhan Kumar | Toshi Ogita Sailor
Acis & Galatea
Toshi Ogita | Arhan Kumar Acis Maya Sayag | Kat Elms Galatea Chris Swithinbank Polyphemus Sofia Galvão | Ieva Glinske Damon
ACIS & GALATEA Synopsis
ACT I
A chorus of Arcadian nymphs and shepherds celebrate their blissful lives. Among them is Galatea, who is in love, and rebukes the birds for stimulating her desire for the shepherd Acis. She leaves in search of him.
Elsewhere, Acis is looking for Galatea, but instead he meets fellow shepherd, Damon. Damon wants Acis to stop searching for Galatea and tend to his flock instead. At that moment, the lovers find each other and proclaim their perfect happiness.
ACT II
The Monster Polyphemus enters and attempts to woo Galatea, who flees in terror. Damon advises the giant to woo Galatea more gently. But Acis leaps to Galatea’s defence and challenges Polyphemus to battle. After Galatea’s pleading, the lovers decide that pledging eternal faith to one another will suffice. The jealous Polyphemus sees this exchange and hurtles a rock at Acis, killing him instantly.
As Galatea mourns the loss of Acis, she decides to use her divine power to make him immortal. And so, she transforms him into a fountain.
DIDO & AENEAS Synopsis
ACT I
Dido, queen of Carthage, cannot bring herself to admit her love for the Trojan prince Aeneas, a guest at her court; he is soon to resume his journey in search of a site for a new city to replace Troy. Her confidante Belinda and her courtiers persuade Dido to speak her love and the act ends with general rejoicing.
ACT II
A sorceress and her witches plot the downfall of Dido and Carthage. Their plan is to "conjure up a storm" and force the lovers to take refuge in a cave, where an elf, disguised as Mercury, will remind Aeneas of his duties. Meanwhile, Dido and Aeneas, having spent the night together, are being entertained in a grove by Belinda and a courtier. A storm arises and the lovers are separated; Aeneas enters the witches' cave and is commanded by the false Mercury to leave Carthage.
ACT III
At the quayside Aeneas's men are preparing to leave. The witches gloat over their victory and sing of their delight. Back at court, Dido has been informed of her lover's planned departure and seeks Belinda's counsel. The queen confronts Aeneas, silences his excuses and dismisses him. After her lament ("When I am laid in earth"), Dido kills herself. Cupids mourn her, scattering roses on her tomb.
