Pupils have been working hard throughout the year in preparation for Downside’s production of Henry Purcell’s opera, Dido and Aeneas.
The pupils were incredibly fortunate to be accompanied by our orchestra, choreographed by Sarah Sigley and directed by Alicia Carroll. Putting on this opera was an outstanding feat for the whole cast and production team, and Rachel Bevan would be extremely proud.
Director Alicia Caroll explained:
“Many years ago, my dear friend Rachel Bevan (singing teacher at Downside) and I were discussing Purcell’s opera Dido & Aeneas – Dido for short. At the time Rachel was directing her production at Downside to celebrate the girls’ arrival there, and I was producing it at Prior Park College. We both agreed that it is a wonderful introduction to opera. Rachel was an inspirational teacher who loved her students. She was a fine professional singer whose highlights included singing alongside Emma Kirkby in the Taverner Choir’s quintessential recording under Andrew Parrott in 1981. I loved working with her but, tragically, she died last year and had her funeral at Downside. We, at
Downside, would like to dedicate this performance to Rachel, in the school with which she and her family had so many connections over decades.
Dido and Aeneas is a baroque opera by one of the greatest composers, Henry Purcell. It is a perfect opera for schools to produce. It is in English and only an hour long. It has comedy, tragedy and romance, and above all the music is sublime. It has been a complete pleasure working with this amazing and dedicated team of students. Opera is not easy, and singing recitative is a complicated art form. From mid-October George Bevan and I have met the students for 35 minutes each week to work on the music and in the last three days we have put together the whole opera.
My idea was to have a simple, clear design, helping the audience to concentrate on the music and drama as the opera unfolds. The chorus acts like a Greek chorus, hence their masks. They comment on the action and show wisdom when in Dido’s court. They then turn into witches and sailors, building upon the drama. The tragedy of Dido and Aeneas is timeless – we know too well it is better to work together and be friends than to wage war, and if one is too proud and cannot forgive then it will ultimately bring about one’s downfall. Hubris is visible all around us in modern life, and is a timeless theme in many art forms.
Within the opera are set dances, and I am delighted that in our department we have the wonderful dance teacher Sarah Sigley. Dance is an integral part of opera. When words fail, dance can speak instead, moving forward not just the story, but the emotions and dynamics of relationships, and it is the physical manifestation of the music and musicians. To complete the Dido team, we are so fortunate in the department to have professional instrumental players who teach the students. The students will be
accompanied by a professional string ensemble with harpsichord.”
The pupil cast included Ari (Belinda); Anna (Dido); Maria (Second Woman); Ayrton (Aeneas); Charlie (sorcerer); Ciara, Leonara, James, Gladys, Edith, Sherinne, Ayot, Euan, Dylan & Pawel (witches/chorus/sailors).
