MasterVoices (formerly The Collegiate Chorale) continues the 2015-2016 season with Henry Purcell and Nahum Tate's tempestuous Baroque opera, Dido and Aeneas, on April 28, 2016 at 7pm and April 29, 2016 at 8pm at New York City Center, 131 W. 55th Street, New York City.
The performance will feature a World Premiere prologue to Dido and Aeneas by Michael John LaChiusa (The Wild Party, First Daughter Suite) that presents the three Fates that control Dido's destiny. MasterVoices' production of Dido and Aeneas will be semi-staged, and will feature the direction and choreography of Doug Varone, the dancers of his company Doug Varone and Dancers, conducting by MasterVoices' Artistic Director Ted Sperling, the MasterVoices chorus, and Orchestra of St. Luke's. The cast, hailing from both the Broadway and opera worlds, is comprised of Kelli O'Hara (Tony Award Winner,The King and I) as Dido, Victoria Clark (Tony Award Winner, The Light in the Piazza) as the Sorceress, Elliot Madore (Winner of the 2010 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions) as Aeneas, and Anna Christy (Les contes d'Hoffmann, the Metropolitan Opera) as Belinda. Set design by David Korins (Hamilton, Bel Canto).
"We are thrilled to reunite Tony Award-winning actresses Kelli O'Hara and Victoria Clark for the first time since their history-making performances in The Light in the Piazza ten years ago in Dido and Aeneas," said Ted Sperling, Artistic Director of MasterVoices. "Further, the evening will open with the World Premiere of a new prologue written and composed by Michael John LaChiusa, in which the three leading ladies play the three Fates, sisters who control our destinies. As the original prologue was lost, I called on my long-time collaborator to bring a contemporary voice into counterpoint with the Baroque, utilizing the same orchestration, including an expanded continuo section of harpsichord, organ, guitar and harp. Orchestrations for the new prologue are by Bruce Coughlin."
Single tickets are $30-$130 and are available online at NYCityCenter.org, by calling CityTix® at 212-581-1212, or at the box office at 131 W. 55th Street (btwn 6th and 7th).
On April 28, MasterVoices will have its annual Spring Benefit in support of its artistic programming and education initiatives. Benefit tickets include pre-concert cocktails, preferred seating at Dido and Aeneas, dinner, and live auction. Call MasterVoices at 646-435-9052 for details.
The Dido and Aeneas program is dedicated to the memory of James S. Marcus, longtime MasterVoices Board Member. MasterVoices is forever grateful for his and his wife Ellen's generosity, and will always remember Jim for his boundless spirit, tremendous wisdom, and deep love of music.
(2016, January 29). Kelli O'Hara & Victoria Clark to Star in MasterVoices' Two-Night Presentation of DIDO AND AENEAS at New York City Center. Retrieved from Broadway.com: http://bit.ly/1SUG52l