Dido and Aeneas is the second collaboration between Blanca Li and William Christie, after the memorable production of Les Indes Galantes directed by Andrei Serban for the Paris Opera.
Blanca Li Dance Company and Les Arts Florissants are back again with a light, contemporary, yet bathed in tradition, version of this choreographic opera written by Henry Purcell in 1688.
Blanca Li has designed this musical, choreographic and artistic show, bringing together all performers, singers, chorus, dancers and musicians, in a unique and moving ensemble with an abstract, unpredictable set design created by visual artist, Evi Keller, combined with Caty Olive’s graphic lighting to open the space and create a powerful, aesthetic atmosphere.
The characters divide and multiply to create a score of intertwined lines between music and dance, expressing the unspoken words of the libretto.
©Laurent Paillier
Song and dance are constantly intertwined, with the dancers naturally and gracefully blending with the chorus, singers and musicians. The dancers sometimes acts as the shadows of the soloists, embodying the feelings of the characters who have several bodies, each expressing themselves in their own way.
The chorus, dancers and musicians come together at times to become a unique body, symbolizing the collective power of fame and fate.
The staging is imbedded with fantasy and freedom, playing on the comic and tragic aspects of the libretto. The choreography that flows between the singers, dancers and
musicians is sinuous, supple, ethereal, athletic, full of ideas, imagery, humour, cheek and color, emphasized by the powerful lighting and staging.
She has freed herself from following the text’s storytelling to give herself leeway to emphasize the symbolism and power of emotions with fully contemporary images.
Synopsis
Few baroque operas have known such a destiny and have aroused so many emotions through the centuries. Composed by Purcell – who was also known as the “Orpheus britannicus” – this absolute masterpiece of
of English Baroque music tells the story of the sincere but unhappy love affair
of Aeneas, the future founder of Rome, and Dido, Queen of Carthage.
Distribution
- Les Arts Florissants Vocal Ensemble and Orchestra
- Music director William Christie
- Directed and choreographed by Blanca Li
- Dancers of the Blanca Li Company
Dido and Aeneas will be premiered in a ballet version – with music recorded from Les Arts Florissants – by the Compagnie Blanca Li from June of the 23-24 season.
DIDON ET ENEA
HENRY PURCELL (1659 – 1695)
Opera in three acts on a libretto by Nahum Tate, based on book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid, created in London in 1689.
Helen Charlston, Léa Desandre, Kathryn Lindsey Didon, Queen of Carthage
Ana Vieira Leite* Belinda, her confident
Renato Dolcini Enée, Prince of Troie, Magic woman
Maud Gnidzaz, Lauren Lodge Campbell First witch
Virginie Thomas second witch, second woman
Jacob Lawrence* Mariner
Michael Loughlin Smith A spirit
Clément Debieuvre*, Bastien Rimondi Ténor
Padraic Rowan, Victor Sicard Basse
Daniel Brant Ténor
Christophe Gautier Basse
*Soloists of Celestial Music
Alizée Duvernois, Coline Fayolle, Gael Rougegrez, Julien Marie-Anne, Meggie Isabet et Victor Virnot Dancers
Les Arts FlorissantsVocal Ensemble and Orchestra
William ChristieMusical direction, harpsichord and organ
Emmanuel Resche-Caserta Music Assistant, Violin
Augusta Lodge*, Tami Troman Violin
Sophie de Bardonneche Alto
Félix Knetch Cello
Hugo Abraham Double bass
Sébastien Marq Recording Flute
Pier Luigi Fabretti Oboe
Thomas Dunford, Diego Salamanca Bustamante Theorbe
Compagnie Blanca Li Dancers
Blanca Li Director and choreographer
assisted by Déborah Torres Garguilo et Glyslein Lefever
Pierre Attrait Dramaturgy
Evi Keller Scenography creation from Matière-Lumière. Costume sculptures for solo singers
in collaboration with Laurent Mercier
Pascal Laajili Lights
assisté de Jean-Luc Passarelli et Boris Pijetlovic
Laurent Mercier Costumes
assisted by Ghjulia Giusti Muselli
Chloé Bellemère Assistant Scenographer
Capture made at l’Opéra Royal du Château de Versailles
from Aloys de Christen and Théophile Jubert
Editing Aloys de Christen
———
Show in English with French and English surtitles
Duration: 1h15 without intermission
Program
Henry Purcell : Didon and Enea
Celestial Music Did The Gods Inspire, Z322
Your dates
The tour
The premiere of Dido and Aeneas directed by Blanca Li with the baroque orchestra Les Arts Florissants conducted by William Christie took place in Madrid in January 2023. Since then, the show has been performed at the Théâtre Impérial de Compiègne and at the Opéra Royal de Versailles. From June 17 to 22, 2023, it will be performed at the Liceu Barcelona in Barcelona.
The ballet version of the show, with recorded music from the opera Dido and Aeneas and with ten dancers, will be performed in Dijon at the beginning of June 2024 and then at the International Music and Dance Festival in Granada.
Dates de tournée
Dido and Enea by Blanca Li in pictures
Video content
Press review
Discover the articles of the French and Spanish press!
- Dido y Eneas’, un festín musical con danza superpuesta El Pais - Cultura du 18 janvier 2023 (es)
- Muchas luces y dos sombras en el estreno de 'Dido y Eneas' de Blanca Li - El Espanol - Cultural du 18 janvier 2023 (es)
- 'Dido y Eneas', una escultura sonora, visual y coreográfica - ABC Cultura du 18 janvier 2023 (es)
- CHRISTIE Y LI / TEATROS DEL CANAL - SusyQ du 18 janvier 2023 (es)
- «Dido y Eneas», la genial ópera barroca de Henry Purcell se presenta en los Teatros del Canal - Culturamas du 19 janvier 2023 (es)
- ‘Dido y Eneas’, el preciosismo acuático de Blanca Li - El Asombrario du 19 janvier 2023 (es)
- Arranca la temporada escénica con ópera de Purcell versionada por Blanca Li - La Vanguardia du 19 janvier 2023 (es)
- 'Dido y Eneas': William Christie convierte la ópera en un milagro musical - El Confidencial du 20 janvier 2022 (es)
- "Dido y Eneas": Música barroca y danza contemporánea se dan la mano - Cinema Gavia du 21 janvier 2023 (es)
- Espectáculo de Blanca Li casi redondo - La Razón du 23 janvier 2023 (es)
- À Compiègne, une «Didon» sans vie mais pas sans voix - Le Figaro du 15 février 2023 (fr)
- Didon et Énée selon Blanca Li - Les Carnets de Versailles du 2 mars 2023 (fr)
- Didon et Énée, opéra et ballet en nage synchronisée à Versaille - Olyrix du 18 mars 2023 (fr)
Thank you
Our partners
PRODUCTION
Compagnie Blanca Li (Calentito)
Les Arts Florissants – William Christie
COPRODUCTION
Opéra Royal / Château de Versailles Spectacles (France)
Théâtre Impérial de Compiègne (France)
Teatros del Canal Madrid (Espagne)
Gran Teatre del Liceu (Espagne)
With the support and participation of
Teatro Real de Madrid.
The Compagnie Blanca Li performed the choreographic creation of the show in its dance studios at the Fiminco Foundation (Romainville, 93230).
Franco-Flemish harpsichord with two keyboards after the Ruckers-Taskin of the Museum of Music by Marc Ducornet and Emmanuel Danset (Paris) created in 2014 for Château de Versailles Spectacles