Scottish Youth Opera present - Dido & Aeneas & Il Pagliacci

scottish youth opera present - dido & aeneas & il pagliacci

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Date

9th Apr 2010

Event Description

In April 2010, Scottish Youth Opera will be presenting a powerful double bill of love and tragedy with Purcell’s “Dido & Aeneas” and Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” at theatres throughout Scotland.

We begin with England's oldest opera, Henry Purcell’s haunting story of Dido and Aeneas, first performed in 1689. Dido is a beautiful young widowed queen, who falls deeply in love with a shipwrecked Trojan Prince, Aeneas but evil witches plot her destruction. A mighty storm is summoned and Aeneas and his crew prepare to depart, to the delight of the witches. There follows a scene that evidences a remarkably modern understanding of psychology. Aeneas tells Dido he must go, she begs him to stay, he finally agrees to stay, at which point she no longer wants him because he’s been told. At this point we have the famous chorus “Great Minds Against Themselves Conspire”. Broken hearted Dido relinquishes her love of life and as death consumes her, she sings the most dignified and touching exit in any opera When I am Laid in Earth.

Music is provided by our superb orchestra, under the creative control of our very talented and colourful Director of Music, “Maestro, John Thwaites”. John is an outstanding musician, highly acclaimed performer both at home and abroad, a Lecturer at the RSAMD and Director of the Cadenza International Music School.

Our second offering is Leoncavallo’s powerful story of love and jealousy, Pagliacci (The Clown). Canio (Pagliacci) head of the troupe of travelling entertainers suspects his wife Nedda of having an affair. He returns from the village bar to find her in the arms of another man. Canio gives chase but the man escapes and Nedda refuses to reveal his identity. Show time arrives and as Canio becomes Pagliacci we hear his anguish in the most moving aria Vesti La Giubba (put on the costume). Canio continues to act, fighting his emotions; he finally loses the fight, declaring “I am Pagliacci no longer” tragedy then follows.

Dido and Aeneas will be cast entirely from the talented members of Scottish Youth Opera, who will also return as the chorus of villagers in Pagliacci, although the principal roles for this opera are occupied by emerging young solo stars, keen to offer their encouragement to our young chorus. The circus interlude in Act 1 brings to the stage an astonishing array of artistes, acrobats, fire jugglers, unicyclists and stilt walkers - prepare to be amazed!

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