Dido and Aeneas – Scenes of a new age

In the organizer's words:

"Dido and Aeneas" is Henry Purcell's masterpiece - a baroque opera that the Ensemble Lachrymae - chamber choir and baroque orchestra - combines with world premieres by Ukrainian Adrian Mocanu in a gripping new interpretation. Directors Natalia Zaitseva and Oleg Sokolov stage the symbiosis of historical music theater and subtle contemporary sounds in images that are as delicate as they are dramatic. An integral part of the performances of Dido and Aeneas - Scenes of a new age is the combination of early music with hip-hop and urban dance, presented by the dance company of the Gerda-Taro-Schule.

Dido and Aeneas - Scenes of a new age focuses on the connection between myth and the present. It tells the story of ambitious young women who, in different times, tried to take places reserved for men and paid a high price for it.

Young dancers embody the movement against patriarchal norms and prescribed gender roles. They are fighting to find their place in the world and in a society in transition.

With Adrian Mocanu's new composition based on the poem "Fever 103°" by Sylvia Plath for solo soprano, choir and historical instruments, which are placed alongside the opera as prologue, interludes and epilogue, the production creates a unique combination of old and new music theater. The tradition of reconstructing the lost parts of Purcell's famous opera or, as in this case, completing them with modern means of sound, gives the Ensemble Lachrymae the opportunity to interpret the work in their own way.

The central female figure represents both the historical person Dido and the writer Sylvia Plath. What these women have in common is that they had more than one reason for their suicide. But the ensembles talk about life, not death. About striving to be oneself and the traces that the actions of these courageous women have left behind over time.

The Ensemble Lachrymae - chamber choir and baroque orchestra on historical instruments - has been bringing together young professional musicians from a wide range of nations since 2021. They are all passionate about one thing: interpreting great music of the most diverse styles authentically and at the highest level.

Vocal soloists Johanna Jäger, Laurenzia Kampa, Lidor Ram Mesika, Anton Haupt and Katharina Salden perform as a young and already internationally successful ensemble.