Culture OPERA SAN MIGUEL - 2011 DIDO & AENEAS
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Press Release / 2011-01-28 14:17:52
As February approaches, Opera San Miguel is busy preparing for its 4th Annual Workshop Week. After the winner of live year's Die Fledermaus by Richard Strauss, Musical Director Tom Pargeter, and his wife, Stage Director Katy Pargeter, set about trying to get a worthy case for this year's presentation.
A transfer of musical style was what they were seeking, and a play with mass to interest soloists and chorus alike - not something contained in many operas.
The issue is a display of Henry Purcell's "Dido & Aeneas" a classical tragedy, written and first performed in London around 1688. It is set in the sentence of "various years BC", in Carthage - now known as Tunisia. The tale tells of Dido, Queen of Carthage and her passion for Aeneas - a Trojan hero. Nothing is straightforward, though, and various gods and witches appear to spice up the plot. The medicine is fascinating, including arguably one of the most beautiful arias of any opera, sung by Dido in the last scene.
The full opera lasts just concluded an hour, and as usual, in just below a week, the party will rehearse and finally perform the completely staged and costumed work in the Casa de Cultura in San Miguel de Salinas. Rehearsals starting on Sunday afternoon, and the opera is performed on the next Friday evening. Quite a dispute for everyone!
Many singers will be traveling to San Miguel from the UK, several of them for the 4th time, to unite some local ex-pats here, for a week of grueling study and enjoyment. The costumes are ready, the music learned, staging and lighting planned, and the party all very much look ahead to meeting old friends, and welcoming new ones in what promises to be yet another exhilarating and successful week.
The society are as always very thankful to the Mayor and Town Hall of San Miguel de Salinas for giving them full use of the Casa de Cultura for the full week. Rehearsals start at 2.00 pm on Sunday 13th February, and keep every day from 10.00 am - 6.00 pm Monday to Thursday, with a stop for lunch! The Dress Rehearsal will be on the Friday morning, and Final Performance on Friday 18th February at 8.00 pm.
Everyone is welget to come to keep any of the sessions during the week - including the Dress Rehearsal - absolutely devoid of charge. For the Final Performance, there will be an entrance charge of 5€.
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