Dido and Aeneas

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UWA School of Music Presents Henry Purcells
Dido and Aeneas. Experience the music of this
classic opera at the Dolphin theatre Friday,
June 6th at 530pm and 800pm Saturday, June 7th
at 530pm and 800pm. Tickets Adults
15 Concession (child, student and senior)
12 Group purchases of 20 or more 10. Unreserved
seating
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Click the icon to listen to In a Deep Vaulted
cell from Dido and Aeneas
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Tickets are available through the UWA School of
music. For more information contact Holly Leonard
on 6488 2054. Adults 15, Concession 12, Group
purchases of 20 or more 10. Seating is
unreserved.
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Henry Purcell Born in 1659, son of a well-known
singer, Purcell would become the greatest English
composer of the age. Purcell was a chorister in
the Chapel Royal before studying composition
under John Blow and Christopher Gibbons. In 1677
Purcell replaced Matthew Locke as Composer for
the Court Violins, a position previously held by
Purcell's uncle. In 1679, he replaced John Blow
as organist at Westminster Abbey, a post he held
for the rest of his life. Purcell was always a
church musician but his work as a court musician
really depended on the musical persuasion of the
reigning monarch. Under Charles II (d. 1685) and
James II (exiled 1688) Purcell wrote for the
royal court, including pieces for harpsichord and
viol consort. On the ascension of William and
Mary (1689) the court ceased to provide the same
level of patronage for musicians. Purcell turned
his attention away from the court and towards
theatre music. It was during this period that
Purcell produced Dido and Aeneas at Josias
Priest's boarding school for girls in Chelsea.
Dido and Aeneas is anomalous among Purcell's
theatre works, in that it is entirely sung. There
is some debate as to whether it was actually
composed at an earlier stage for a court
performance and then revived for Josias Priest,
but the evidence of this is inconclusive. During
the latter period of his life Purcell was a
highly sought after composition teacher. In 1695
he composed one of his most famous pieces, Thou
knowest, Lord, for the funeral of Queen Mary. He
died the same year and was buried near the organ
in Westminster Abbey.
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Jane Davidson Director
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Fiona Campbell Vocal Coach
About the Composer
Juliet Faulkner Pianist Juliet trained as a
pianist, accompanist and repetiteur at the Royal
Academy of Music in London. Working as a
professional accompanit at the RAM, Juliet worked
with singers, the opera studio and, being a viola
player herself, as accompanist and coach to
string players. Having spent the last 20 years in
Iceland, where she has been active as an
accompanist, coach and teacher, Juliet arrived in
Perth earlier last year.
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Cast
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Jake Newby Set and Lighting Design Jake has
worked in the theatre/entertainment area for
nearly 40 years, as a set and lighting designer,
scriptwriter, publicist, broadcaster, actor,
producer, festival coordinator and country tour
manager. Jake also has a BA in English and
History from UWA and enjoys maintaining and
sailing his 1936 wooden motor cruiser.
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Rabiya Plush-Noad Costumes Rabiya is currently
completing a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at
UWA. Along with Dido and Aeneas Rabiya has
appeared in various Western Australian
productions including, St Matthews Passion
(Bach), Carmina Burana (Orff), The Transmigration
of Souls (Adams), and UWAs 2007 production of
Betulia Liberata (Mozart). Rabiya was a founding
member of the WA Youth Chorale. Earlier this year
Rabiya featured as a soloist for the ABC and was
the alto soloist in Mozart's Requiem.
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Esmeralda Rocha Costumes, Make-up and Hair,
Stage Management, Photography In 2007 Esmeralda
graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Musicology)
with First Class Honours and has recently begun a
PhD through UWA and the University of Bristol
researching operatic performance practice and the
role of opera across the British Empire in the
Victorian era. Esmeralda is a keen performer,
having appeared as the soprano soloist in the
UWA/WAAPA performances of Mozarts Coronation
Mass, and also enjoys acting, having appeared as
Mabel Chiltern in Oscar Wildes An Ideal Husband,
Conrade in Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing
and soon to appear as Judy in Patrick Whites The
Season at Sarsaparilla here at the Dolphin.
Production Team
Cast
Sarah Wells Conductor Sarah has worked with
numerous student and community ensembles in Perth
over the past three years and currently is this
conductor for The Churchlands Community Orchestra
and The Fellowship String Orchestra. In 2006 she
was a finalist in the WAYMA Australian Council
Conducting Internship and feels privileged to
have since developed her knowledge under James
Macmillan, Peter Moore, Joseph Colaneri - (WA
Opera Company La Bohème), Richard Mills - (WA
Opera Company The Magic Flute), Juliet and Robert
Faulkener, Francis Greep and Jessica Gethin.
Later this year she plans to attend part of the
Symphony Australia Core Conductors Program under
British conductor Christopher Seaman. Currently
Sarah is undertaking post-graduate studies in
music psychology, researching the implications of
gender expectations on female orchestral
conductors.
Plot Synopsis
Paul Wright Musical Director, Ensemble Leader
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Other Acknowledgments GRADS (Graduate Dramatic
Society at UWA) Props Ms Merri Ford, Director
of Hustle and Bustle - Costumes
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Dudley Allitt Æneas Music has been an integral
part of Dudley Allitt's life from a very early
age. At the age of 4 he began violin lessons in
Melbourne. In 1998 he moved to Western Australia
and at the age of eight joined the St Georges
Cathedral choir under the direction of Simon
Lawford. In 2002 Dudley was a member of the
children's chorus for the Western Australian
opera Company's production of Puccini's La
Bohème. He has also performed in Midnite Youth
Theatres productions of Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolour Dreamcoat, River Dreaming and
Ruddigore. Dudley is currently studying a
combined degree of Music and Health Science,
studying voice with Megan Sutton.
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Joshua Bamford Chorus Josh is in his second
year of a Bachelor of Music (Performance) and a
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) at the University
of Western Australia.  He is currently studying
voice under Fiona Campbell. Joshua has sung as a
chorus member for Le Nozze di Figaro (Autonomous
Productions), Betulia Liberata (UWA) and The
Magic Flute (WA Opera).  He also performs with
various choirs including the National Youth Choir
of Australia, the WA Charity Orchestra Chorus,
the WA Youth Chorale and the Winthrop Singers.
Production Team
Isalyn Bessell-Browne - Chorus Isalyn started
her singing career at a young age, being part of
a small group who entertained at rest homes,
shopping centres and public events such as
"Carols by Candlelight". Isalyn is a graduate of
Perth's leading music specialist school, Perth
Modern where she studied under vocal specialist
Liz Pascoe for 5 years, singing in Perth Modern
Senior Chorale and two chamber choirs under the
direction of Celia Christmass. She is delighted
at having been accepted into UWA and looks
forward to improving her technique.
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Evanna Brando Chorus Besides studying music for
the first year at the University of Western
Australia and watching day time TV, Evanna has
developed a deep love for singing and performing.
Evanna has been studying music, in one style or
another, for almost ten years, and feels that
being involved in opportunities such as Dido and
Aeneas is a wonderful chance to work to develop
her vocal, movement and acting skills alongside
older students, and the excellent staff at UWA.
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Ashlee Clapp Chorus, Dancer
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Leah Dodds Spirit, Chorus Leah started singing
lessons at the age of 14 and played trumpet in
school for 4 years starting at the age of 10.
Piano had been her hobby since she was only 7,
but she had changed her mind about trumpet and
felt the sudden urge to sing. As a student at
Sacred Heart College, Leah's tutors and friends
noticed her promise as a singer and encouraged
her to take singing to a more serious
level. Since then, Leah has been in several
school performances and local music productions,
although her appearance as the Spirit tonight is
her first operatic experience. Leah is very
passionate about singing, and feels herself to be
most at home on stage.
Production Team
Cast
Laura Hayman Chorus Laura is currently studying
BArts/BMusic majoring in linguistics and voice.
Coming from a background of musical theatre the
stage is a familiar place, but this will be
Laura's first opera performance.
Plot Synopsis
Kathleen How Chorus Katie is in her second year
of a Music Performance degree, studying voice
under Fiona Campbell. She is a member of the WA
Youth Chorale, and plays flute in the WA Youth
Symphonic Band. She has also sung with the
Winthrop Singers, the Collegium Musicum Choir and
last year performed in the University's
production of Mozart's Betulia Liberata and has
appeared as a soloist in UWAs various opera
scene and art-song concert programmes.
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Perry Joyce Sailor Perry was born in Perth and
graduated from Trinity College in 2006. He is
currently undertaking a Bachelor or Music at the
University of Western Australia majoring in
composition. Having studied the piano and singing
from an early age, Perry has won many local and
national competitions for excellence in singing,
piano playing and composition alike. Some of his
compositions have been performed by the Sydney
Symphonys Sinfonietta under the direction of
Richard Gill, The National Youth Choir of
Australia, The Western Australian Youth Chorale
and the Gondwana Voices.
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Alasdair Kent Chorus Alasdair is a WAAPA
graduate, currently in his second year at UWA,
studying voice under Megan Sutton. Alasdair has
appeared as Gherardino (Gianni Schicchi), Don
Curzio (Le nozze di Figaro), Tony (West Side
Story), and the Errand Boy (Dinner Engagement),
as well as excerpts from Don Ramiro (La
Cenerentola) and Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte).
Alasdair recently presented a song recital with
the Lieder Society and as one of the youngest
members of the WA Opera Chorus, Alasdair has
performed in recent productions of Rigoletto and
The Magic Flute. Alasdair is the most recent
winner of the Royal Over-Seas League Singing
Competition.
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Alexandra Leonzini Chorus Alex Leonzini is a
second year student studying a combined degree of
music and European languages. Last year Alex
appeared in UWA's 2007 opera scenes. Her recent
concert performances include Beethoven's Missa
Solemnis, performed with the London Philharmonic
Chorus, Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, performed
with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as a
semi-chorus member, and recently, as the soprano
soloist in Bernstein's Chichester Psalms,
performed with West Australian Symphony
Orchestra.
Plot Synopsis
Claire McGlew Chorus Claire is currently
completing her second year of a Bachelor of Music
Performance, with voice as her instrument. Claire
has performed in UWAs song recitals, opera-scene
concerts and last years production of Betulia
Liberata. She is a member of the Winthrop Singers
and is enjoying the life of a university student
far too much. As a result, she hasn't made any
life plans beyond graduating.
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Eva-Marie Middleton - Chorus Eva-Marie's first
taste for music developed singing in the
children's chorus of Puccini's La Bohème with
Regal Opera. She has since focussed on
choral work, singing large works with the
University Chorales of both UWA and Bristol, UK,
as well as being a member of Summa Musica, the
New I Voci Singers and currently the Winthrop
Singers. Career highlights include singing the
soprano solo in Rautavaara's Vigilia and
recording a CD sponsored by the Spanish Embassy
with the Winthrop Singers. She has aspirations
for professional choral work in Europe. Eva-Marie
has a Bachelor of Musical Arts from the
University of Western Australia and is currently
completing a Bachelor of Music with Honours in
Composition.
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Joanna Norman - Belinda
Production Team
Andrew OConnor Chorus Andrew O'Connor is now
in his second year of study, and under the
tutelage of Megan Sutton. A regular soloist and
performer with local choirs, companies and
theatres, he is well versed in a variety of
musical genres ranging through from rennaisance
to musical theatre and opera. He sings regularly
with Collegium Musicum, the Australian
Citizenship Council, St Patrick's Church and
around Perth for weddings, funerals and the like
- as well as a number of university ensembles.
Andrew is also heavily involved with the West
Australian Youth Music programme and the National
Youth Choir of Australia - touring locally and
nationally.
Cast
Plot Synopsis
Jane Peacock Queen Dido of Carthage Jane
Peacock has a love of many styles of singing,
however after trying her hand at jazz she was
infomed that classical singing was best suited to
her voice. Jane graduated from the Western
Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2006
where she completed a Bachelor of Performing Arts
in Classical Music. Whilst at WAAPA, Jane played
many lead roles in the operas as well as opera
scenes, including Lauretta in Gianni Schicci as
well as the Countess of Dunmow in A Dinner
Engagement. This is the second time Jane has been
fortunate enough to work under the direction of
Jane Davidson. Last year she played the role of
Jessie in the UWA production of Das Kleine
Mahagonny. Presently, Jane is a post graduate
student studying a preliminary to Master of Music
(Performance) at UWA. Jane is also the recipient
of the 2008 John Hind Opera Viva Scholarship
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Rabiya Plush-Noad Sorceress Rabiya is currently
completing a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at
UWA. Along with Dido and Aeneas Rabiya has
appeared in various Western Australian
productions including, St Matthews Passion
(Bach), Carmina Burana (Orff), The Transmigration
of Souls (Adams), and UWAs 2007 production of
Betulia Liberata (Mozart). Rabiya was a founding
member of the WA Youth Chorale. Earlier this year
Rabiya featured as a soloist for the ABC and was
the alto soloist in Mozart's Requiem.
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Avalon Rector First Witch Avalon is a second
year voice student at UWA, studying under Ian
Westrip. She has previously studied at
Metropolitan Arts Institute in Phoenix and
Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff where
she performed in Mozart's Don Giovanni and Cosi
fan tutte as a chorus member and appeared as
Fiordiligi in scenes from Cosi fan tutte. Avalon
has enjoyed being in choir ensembles throughout
her life, her most recent performance being with
the South West Opera Company as a chorus member
in Verdi's La Traviata. Avalon wants to be a
vocal teacher after graduation.
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Stephanie Santarini Chorus/Dancer Stephanie
Santarini is in 2nd year of her Bachelor of Music
Degree at UWA and currently studying Certificate
II in Musical Theatre at WAAPA. This reflects
Stephanie's many performance interests - she is a
keen singer and dancer, and enjoys both Classical
performance and musical theatre. In 2007
Stephanie participated in the WA Opera Company's
Rigoletto, and also took part in Mozart's Betulia
Liberata at UWA. She has been studying dance for
twelve years with Jody Marshall Dance Company.
Plot Synopsis
Elizabeth Separovich Chorus Lizzy is currently
in her second year of vocal performance as a part
of a Bachelor of Music Education. She is an
active member of the University's Winthrop
Singers, and has enjoyed various performances
with this emsemble such as the recent production
of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and a concert and
CD recording in New Norcia sponsored by the
Spanish Embassy. Lizzy has enjoyed performing in
several recent productions including Autonomous
Production's The Marriage of Figaro. She was also
involved in the highly successful Catch Music
pilot program, exploring the benefits and
possibilities of music education in the disabled
community. Lizzy hopes to further her interest in
choral music, ensemble performance and education
in her future musical studies.
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Daniel Sinfield Chorus Daniel Sinfield has been
performing in Perth professionally for many years
now as a member of the WA Opera chorus performing
in operas such as Nabucco, Madama Butterfly,
Rigoletto and La Bohème. In the last few years
he has played roles such as Prince Phillipe in
Dinner Engagement,  First Sailor in Dido and
Aeneas, Mr Love in Three's Company, Don Basilio
in Le Nozze di Figaro and many others. Daniel is
a keen composer, as well as performer, and is
currently composing his first opera Miss December
and pleased to be here to support this
years UWA Production of Dido and Aeneas. 
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Sarah Stanton Second Witch Sarah's love affair
with music began at an early age while singing
contralto in the Perth Children's Choir. In 2007
she concluded five years of study at WAAPA,
encompassing solo vocal study as well as two
years in the Composition department. She appeared
in the choruses for Street Scene and Dido and
Aeneas, and she sang for several years in both
Summa Musica and the Eneksis Ensemble. She brings
her keen love of choral music and opera with her
to UWA, hoping to consolidate her former study in
this new environment. In addition to music, her
current course includes majors in English
literature and Chinese.
Production Team
Cassandra Sulc Chorus Cassandras love of music
began at the tender age of three, when she
discovered the percussive genius of uncooked
pasta in a jar. It was the beginning of what some
may define as an unhealthy obsession and others
a passion. Firm in her belief that variety is the
spice of life, and stressing quantity over
quality, Cassy enjoyed a myriad of instruments,
before finding her niche with the vocal students
at UWA. When she grows up, Cassy wants to be in
an indie girl band, or a specialist music teacher.
Cast
Plot Synopsis
Victoria Wilkie Second Woman Victoria, in her
third year of a Bachelor of Music at the
University of Western Australia, is currently
under the vocal tuition of Megan Sutton. After a
ten month exchange in Germany in 2005, Victoria
began her tertiary education at WAAPA. Here she
participated in the annual Opera Scenes, playing
the part of the 2nd Boy in Die Zauberflöte.
Previously, Victoria graduated from St. Hilda's
Anglican School for Girls where she was Chorale
Captain and participated in many vocal and
instrumental ensembles. It was with the St.
Hilda's Chorale which Victoria travelled to
compete in festivals in Vienna and Llangollen on
two chorale tours.
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Fate forbids what you pursue The story of
Dido and Aeneas is one of the world's most tragic
love stories, first described in Virgil's Aeneid,
then Marlowe's Dido, Queen of Carthage and Henry
Purcell and Nahum Tate's opera Dido and Aeneas.
Before Aeneas founded Rome, he was a Trojan
soldier. When Troy fell, he left with his
followers in seven ships. He was shipwrecked on
the shores of Carthage, the great African city
ruled by Queen Dido. Dido and Aeneas fell deeply
in love, but the gods called Aeneas away to
fulfil his destiny in Italy, and Dido was left
alone and died of a broken heart. In reality,
there was a Queen Dido of Carthage, and she did
commit suicide, but it was to avoid marrying a
rival king, Iarbus. Nevertheless, it is a
piteous story two lovers torn apart by the
gods. It is a monumental work in the Baroque
opera, remembered as one of Purcell's (and
perhaps England's) foremost operatic works. It
may be considered Purcell's only true opera, as
compared with his other musical dramatic works
such as King Arthur and The Fairy-Queen, as well
as the first English opera. Since then it has
taken a place at the core repertory of many of
the world's great opera companies. The score is
well known, with challenging material for the
soloists with a solid and at times difficult
chorus. It is believed to have been first
performed at a girl's school in Britain. As such
it makes it an excellent choice for this, a
student production.
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