The Department of Music and Theatre
and
Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre
present
DIDO AND AENEAS
by
Henry Purcell
CAST LIST
(In order of appearance)
Belinda…………………………………..Kaelyn Wood* (’15)
Dido……………………………………..Alyssa Pyle* (’15)
Second Woman………………………….Morgan Eldridge
Ugochi Nriaka
Aeneas…………………………………...Kevin Ruby* (‘12)
Sorceress………………………………...Kaeli Groenert
First Witch………………………………Katherine Kulikowski
Second Witch …………………………...Gabrielle Picard
Spirit……………………………………..Daniel Xie
Sailor ……………………………………Tyler Kim
Men's trio…………………………….…..Tyler Kim
Daniel Xie
Pan Zhang
Chorus: Morgan Eldridge, Hannah Godson, Kaeli Groenert,
Kaelyn Wood, Katherine Kulikowski, Gabrielle Picard,
Rebecca Snow, Ugochi Nriaka, Kyle Kim, Tyler Kim,
Michael Rafferty, Brion Virgil, Anthony Leva,
Emanuel Lubitz, Carlitos Serrano, Daniel Xie
*UAlbany Vocal Performance Major Alumni
Chamber Orchestra
First Violin: Marla Bracco
Second Violin: Jessica Belflower
Cello: Lucy Bardo
Piano: Trevor Kahlbaugh
Musical numbers and Synopsis
Act I
Overture
[Part I, Scene 1] – Belinda is trying to cheer up Dido, but
Dido is full of sorrow saying, “Peace and I are strangers
grown.” Belinda believes the source of this grief to be the
Trojan Aeneas and suggests that Carthage’s troubles could be
resolved by a marriage between the two. Dido and Belinda talk
for a time – Dido fears that her love will make her a weak
monarch, but Belinda and the Second Woman reassure her that
“The hero loves as well.” Aeneas enters the court, and is at first
received coldly by Dido, but she eventually accepts his
proposal of marriage.
Act II
Scene 1 [Part I, Scene 2] – The Sorceress is plotting the
destruction of Carthage and its queen, and summons
companions to help with evil plans. The plan is to send her
“trusted elf,” disguised as Mercury, (someone to whom Aeneas
will surely listen to) to tempt him to leave Dido heartbroken,
and she would surely die. The chorus joins in with terrible
laughter, and the Witches decide to conjure up a storm to make
Dido and her train leave the grove and return to the palace.
When the spell is prepared, the witches vanish in a thunderclap.
Scene 2 [Part II, Scene 1] – Dido and Aeneas are
accompanied by their train. They stop at the grove to take in its
beauty. A lot of action is going on, with attendants carrying
goods from the hunt and a picnic possibly taking place, and
Dido and Aeneas are together within the activity. This is all
stopped when Dido hears distant thunder, prompting Belinda to
tell the servants to prepare for a return to shelter as soon as
possible. As every other character leaves the stage, Aeneas is
stopped by the Sorceress's elf, who is disguised as Mercury.
This pretend Mercury brings the command of Jove that Aeneas
is to wait no longer in beginning his task of creating a new
Troy on Latin soil. Aeneas consents to the wishes of what he
believes are the gods, but is heartbroken that he will have to
leave Dido. He then goes offstage to prepare for his departure
from Carthage.
Act III
[Part II, Scene 2] – Preparations are being made for the
departure of the Trojan Fleet. The sailors sing a song, which is
followed shortly by the Sorceress and her companions’ sudden
appearance. The group is pleased at how well their plan has
worked, and the Sorceress sings a solo describing her further
plans of the destruction of Aeneas “on the ocean.” All the
characters begin to clear the stage after a dance in three
sections, and then disperse.
(The palace) – Dido and Belinda enter, shocked at Aeneas’
disappearance. Dido is distraught and Belinda comforts her.
Suddenly Aeneas returns, but Dido is full of fear before Aeneas
speaks, and his words only serve to confirm her suspicions. She
derides his reasons for leaving, and even when Aeneas says he
will defy the gods and not leave Carthage, Dido rejects him for
having once thought of leaving her. After Dido forces Aeneas
to leave, she states that “Death must come when he is gone.”
The opera and Dido’s life both slowly come to a conclusion as
the Queen of Carthage sings her last aria, “When I am laid in
Earth,” (Dido’s Lament). Dido is dead but ordering the “cupids
to scatter roses on her tomb, soft and gentle as her heart. Keep
here your watch, and never, never, never, never part.”
(synopsis from Wikipedia)
Biographies
Diane Lachtrupp-Martinez (Choreographer)
Before moving to the capital district, Diane LachtruppMartinez was a dancer, choreographer, and instructor in New
York City performing and choreographing for the stage,
television, and film. She is the co-director of Tango Fusion
Dance Company in Saratoga Springs that offers partner dance
classes to adults and children specializing in Argentine Tango,
Swing, and Latin. She recently won a local choreography
competition called, "So You Think You Can Choreograph"
sponsored by Nacre Dance Company. Diane is currently
performing with Nacre Dance Company as Isadora Duncan
in the show "Revolutionary." Her greatest joys are raising her
two sons and dancing with her husband/partner, Johnny.
Kevin Ruby (Aeneas)
While studying Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas in an Opera
Analysis course here at UAlbany, Kevin Ruby never imagined
he’d return to perform in a production of it. He is happy to
return to the University as the Trojan hero Aeneas in his sixth
collaboration with Hubbard Hall Opera Theater. He remains
active performing in the Capital District as well as maintaining
a bass soloist position at Trinity Methodist Church and
teaching voice at Burnt Hills Music. His next role will be Jesus
in a production of Godspell with Rensselaerville Stage
Creations, due to open in June of this year.
Alyssa Pyle (Dido)
Alyssa Pyle is a senior finishing her degrees in Vocal
Performance and Business Administration. She began her
collegiate studies at Eastman School of Music in Rochester,
NY, studying under Kathryn Cowdrick. In Rochester, she
received the Howard Hansen Award and was a featured soloist
with the University of Rochester Women’s Chorus, Eastman
Repertory Singers, and the American Choral Directors
Association’s production of Handel’s “The Messiah”. Since
transferring to the University at Albany, she has been fortunate
enough to study under Frances Wittmann and has sung solos
with the University at Albany’s Jazz Ensemble, Symphony
Orchestra, Chamber Singers, and University Chorale.
Additionally, she regularly cantors at the Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception in downtown Albany. She is excited to
be performing in her third Opera Workshop and is so grateful
to her family for their love and support.
Kaelyn Wood (Belinda)
Kaelyn Wood graduated in December from the University at
Albany with her bachelor's degree in Psychology and Music
with a concentration in Vocal Performance. She had the
opportunity to study with Frances Wittmann during her time at
the University and is excited to perform the role of Belinda
in Dido and Aeneas in her fourth Opera Workshop at the
University. She has performed in the vocal department’s
annual Bach to Broadway shows and each spring has had the
privilege of working with the Hubbard Hall Opera Company’s
Opera Workshop residency. She is a soprano with the
University Chamber Singers, and under the baton of William
Jon Gray, has had the opportunity to perform as the soprano
soloist in Mozart's Coronation Mass. She also had the pleasure
of performing as a soloist in the University Theater
Department's production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
this past March. She will soon be pursuing a graduate degree in
psychology and would like to thank her father, Larry, for his
unyielding support throughout her journey thus far.
Special Thanks to:
Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre
(Alexina and Jason Dolmesch)
Diane Lachtrupp-Martinez
Elizabeth Margolius
Nellie Rustick
Kent Schultz
Fran Wittmann
Dr. William Gray
UAlbany Alumni
PAC Staff