Dido and Aeneas
Rehearsals for Roy Hart Theatre founder member Stephen Rivers-Moore’s production of Purcell’s baroque opera Dido and Aeneas began in Autumn 2025.
The idea from the beginning was to stage a complete performance in English, with a group of up to eleven singers accompanied by three or four musicians.
In place of Purcell's original score for two violins, a viola and a cello, Stephen is transposing the score for two recorders plus two other instruments which might include a cello, a saxophone, a bass clarinet, or a double bass.
In November 2025 the first week-long residency to work on the chorus parts took place in the Cévennes, near Malérargues. The second is planned for May 2026, in the Ardèche region, to continue to work on the chorus and staging. During the third residency, in September 2026, the focus will be on the solo roles, as the group continues to explore and define the staging.
The members of this international cast — all of whom have past experience of Roy Hart voice work and are familiar with life in Malérargues — hail from Denmark, England, Italy, Israel, Germany and all corners of France.
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