The Israel Opera will present the Sasha Waltz production of Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas for a brief engagement.
By HELEN KAYE
The Israel Opera will present the Sasha Waltz production of Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas for a brief engagement. Waltz, considered one of the dance world's most important choreographers, created this production for the Berlin State Opera and her own dance company. It will play at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center from June 3-8 only.
Dido (Aurore Ugolin), queen of Carthage, and the Trojan prince Aeneas (Reuben Wilcox) meet and fall in love. Fate and witchcraft drive them apart, and as Aeneas sets sail for Rome, Dido dies of a broken heart.
The opera's characters are doubled by the dancers. Dido is danced by two Israelis, Yael Schnell and Michal Mualem. To create the dances, Waltz added additional Purcell music, including for the prologue in which the dancers swim in a giant aquarium.
The Berlin Academy for Ancient Music Orchestra is conducted by Christopher Moulds of the UK, a noted expert of the baroque.