Dido & Aeneas
March 26 & 27, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary
$14 (adults) /$11 (students*/seniors)
*Part of the Claim Your Seat program. UCalgary students can request their free ticket in-person at the box office or online, limited quantity available! UCalgary employees, emeriti and alumni receive 50% off for themselves and one guest.
Dido & Aeneas, Henry Purcell’s timeless Baroque opera, brings to life one of antiquity’s most tragic love stories. Based on Roman mythology, the opera follows Dido, Queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, a Trojan prince forced into exile after the fall of Troy.
Presented by UCalgary SCPA, this production is directed by Vanessa Porteous with musical direction by Julie Harris, and features the UCalgary Collegium Musicum, UCalgary Chamber Choir, and a Baroque Instrument Ensemble.
Music Directors' Note
Dido and Aeneas is Purcell’s only fully-sung opera and it is indeed an anomaly in the history of English music of 17th century. Italians loved fully sung operas, but the English loved their plays, interspersed with music spectacle, and so, Purcell wrote plenty of music fitting this form, now called semi-operas. However, Dido and Aeneas demonstrates that when Purcell decided to convey an entire story through music, he could do so with all the nuance of character and deeply felt passion one expects in an opera.
I have been directing Collegium Musicum for over 15 years, preparing and presenting concerts with keen and capable students each year. Our first UCalgary staged musical production involving early music was in 2019, and I began to imagine this project as soon as our last staged performance, Venus and Adonis & the Rest of Us, wrapped two years ago. This time I was able to pull the Chamber Choir into the production, adding to the scale and excitement of the show. I feel so lucky to have been able to share my love of this repertoire with so many students.
As always, the creative process -- involving the wonderful students, Vanessa our amazing stage director, and all the people working hard behind the scenes in the SCPA -- has been amazing. I am so pleased to see the culmination of this project and I personally hope it will not be the last time we are able to pull such a fabulous group of students together to perform early music!
Julie Harris
Stage Director’s Note
Sometime between 1683 and 1688, English Baroque composer Henry Purcell put music to the words of Nahum Tate, an Anglo-Irish poet and playwright, to create Purcell’s one of the earliest operas in the English repertoire.
Dido and Aeneas is based on the first part of an epic poem, The Aeneid, by Roman poet Virgil, that tells the story of how Prince Aeneas fled from the destruction of his city, Troy, and sailed the Mediterranean with a small troop of followers, seeking a new place to call home. Eventually they’ll settle in Italy, where Aeneas will found the Roman Empire. He has no choice, it’s his fate, as decreed by Jove, God of Thunder -- or so the stories say.
But before all that, they wash ashore near the up-and-coming city of Carthage and are given shelter by its ruler, Queen Dido, sometimes referred to as Elissa in the opera. That relationship is what the opera dramatizes. Like Aeneas, Dido has also fled chaos and tragedy in her home country. She is also rebuilding her life after great loss. But for Dido, human love, not abstract duty, should be our highest bond.
Somehow, Purcell and Tate distill this timeless human struggle between what we owe each other, and what we owe the world, into just under an hour of mesmerizing, heartbreaking music and words. What a pleasure to share this work with you.
It’s been my joy and honour to collaborate for a second time with my incredible colleague, Julie Harris, a leader in Calgary’s musical landscape. We’re so lucky to have her. Additionally, let me praise all the student performers, for their passion, enthusiasm, dedication, and sheer hard work. Toi, toi, toi, y’all! And to all the other members of the team, both students and staff, in the classrooms, shops, offices, and behind the scenes, thank you so much for everything you’ve contributed to this project. Bravo.
Vanessa
Synopsis and Scenes
Queen Dido and her followers have fled their home to escape a violent coup in which her husband was murdered. Now, in Carthage where Dido rules alone and vows never to remarry, Prince Aeneas and his sailors have washed up on shore. Refugees from the destruction of Troy, they are travelling to Italy, where it is prophesied Aeneas will found a great Empire. Aeneas tells Dido the story of the fall of Troy. Both are leaders; both are marked by tragedy.
Scene 1: Queen Dido’s Palace in Carthage
Belinda and Queen Dido’s Courtiers convince her to accept Trojan Prince Aeneas’ affections.
Scene 2: At the Mouth of the Sorcerer’s Cave
Envious of Dido and Aeneas’ power and happiness, a Sorcerer and a cabal of Witches devise a plan to separate the lovers. They will send a false messenger, disguised as Mercury, who will order Aeneas to leave immediately to fulfill his destiny as founder of the city of Rome.
Scene 3: A Grove Near Carthage
Having consummated their love, Dido and Aeneas join Belinda and the Courtiers in a grove near Carthage. A thunderstorm conjured by the Witches isolates Aeneas who submits to the false Mercury’s commands and agrees to leave Carthage by nightfall.
Scene 4: On a Pier in Carthage Harbour
Aeneas’ sailors celebrate the prospect of setting sail. Watching from the shadows, the Sorcerer and Witches resolve to send a storm to Aeneas at sea, and to rain fire and destruction upon Carthage, bringing an end to Queen Dido.
Scene 5: Queen Dido’s Palace in Carthage.
Aeneas seeks forgiveness from Dido for having to leave, but to Dido he has betrayed a much higher obligation: love. She sends him away, though she knows her reign is now doomed. As she dies, she calls to be remembered, for more than her fate. Belinda and the Courtiers grieve.
END.
Dido and Aeneas, Libretto
Scene 1: The Palace.
Enter Dido and Belinda, and Train.
BELINDA
Shake the cloud from off your brow, Fate your wishes does allow; Empire growing, Pleasures flowing, Fortune smiles and so should you. Shake the cloud from off your brow.
CHORUS
Banish sorrow, banish care, Grief should ne'er approach the fair.
DIDO
Ah! Belinda, I am press'd, With torment not to be confess'd. Peace and I are strangers grown,/I languish till my grief is known, Yet would not have it guess'd.
BELINDA Grief increases by concealing;
DIDO Mine admits of no revealing.
BELINDA
Then let me speak; the Trojan guest, Into your tender thoughts has press'd.
SECOND WOMAN
The greatest blessing Fate can give, Our Carthage to secure, and Troy revive.
CHORUS
When monarchs unite, how happy their state; They triumph at once o'er their foes and their fate.
DIDO
Whence could so much virtue spring? What storms, what battles did he sing? Anchises' valour mix'd with Venus' charms, How soft in peace, and yet how fierce in arms!
BELINDA
A tale so strong and full of woe, Might melt the rocks, as well as you. What stubborn heart unmov'd could see, Such distress, such piety?
DIDO
Mine with storms of care oppress'd, Is taught to pity the distress'd; Mean wretches grief can touch, So soft, so sensible my breast, But ah! I fear I pity his too much.
BEL & 2nd Woman, then CHORUS
Fear no danger to ensue, The hero loves as well as you. Ever gentle, ever smiling, And the cares of life beguiling, Fear no danger to ensue, The hero loves as well as you. Cupids strew your path with flowers, Gather'd from Elysian bowers. Fear no danger to ensue, The hero loves as well as you.
Aeneas enters.
BELINDA
See, your royal guest appears; How godlike is the form he bears!
AENEAS
When, royal fair, shall I be bless'd, With cares of love and state distress'd?
DIDO Fate forbids what you pursue.
AENEAS
Aeneas has no fate but you! Let Dido smile, and I'll defy, The feeble stroke of Destiny.
CHORUS
Cupid only throws the dart That's dreadful to a warrior's heart, And she that wounds can only cure the smart.
AENEAS
If not for mine, for empire's sake/ Some pity on your lover take; Ah! make not in a hopeless fire, A hero fall, and Troy once more expire.
BELINDA
Pursue thy conquest, Love--her eyes, Confess the flame her tongue denies.
CHORUS
To the hills and the vales, to the rocks and the mountains, To the musical groves and the cool shady fountains, Let the triumphs of Love and of beauty be shown; Go revel ye Cupids, the day is your own.
They exit.
Scene 2: The Cave.
Enter Sorceror.
SORCEROR
Wayward sisters, you that fright, The lonely traveller by night, Who like dismal ravens crying/ Beat the windows of the dying, Appear at my call, and share in the fame, Of a mischief shall make all Carthage flame. Appear, appear!
Enter Witches.
WITCHES Say, Brother, what's thy will?
CHORUS
Harm's our delight and mischief all our skill.
SORCEROR
The Queen of Carthage, whom we hate, As we do all in prosp'rous state, Ere sunset shall most wretched prove, Depriv'd of fame, of life and love.
CHORUS Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
WITCHES
Ruin'd ere the set of sun? Tell us, how shall this be done?
SORCEROR
The Trojan Prince you know is bound, By Fate to seek Italian ground; The Queen and he are now in chase…
WITCHES
Hark! hark! the cry comes on apace!
SORCEROR
But when they've done, my trusty elf, In form of Mercury himself, As sent from Jove, shall chide his stay, And charge him sail tonight with all his fleet away!
CHORUS Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho.
WITCHES
But ere we this perform, We'll conjure for a storm, To mar their hunting sport, And drive 'em back to court.
CHORUS
In our deep vaulted cell, the charm we'll prepare, Too dreadful a practice for this open air.
Scene 4: The Ships
Enter the Sailors.
SAILOR, then CHORUS
Come away, fellow sailors, your anchors be weighing, Time and tide will admit no delaying; Take a boozy short leave of your nymphs on the shore, And silence their mourning, With vows of returning, But never intending to visit them more.
They exit. Enter the Sorceror and Witches.
SORCEROR
See the flags and streamers curling, Anchors weighing, sails unfurling!
WITCHES
Phoebus' pale deluding beams/ Gilding o'er deceitful streams. Our plot has took, The Queen's forsook, ho, ho, ho! Elissa's ruin'd, ho, ho, ho!
SORCEROR
Our next motion, Must be to storm her lover on the ocean. From the ruin of others our pleasures we borrow; Elissa bleeds tonight, and Carthage flames tomorrow!
CHORUS
Destruction's our delight, delight our greatest sorrow; Elissa dies tonight, and Carthage flames tomorrow!
Scene 5: the Palace.
Enter Dido, Belinda, and Train.
DIDO
Your counsel all is urg'd in vain, To earth and heaven I will complain; To earth and heaven why do I call? Earth and heaven conspire my fall. To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, The only refuge for the wretched left.
Enter Aeneas.
BELINDA
See, madam, where the Prince appears! Such sorrow in his look he bears, As would convince you still he's true.
AENEAS
What shall lost Aeneas do? How, royal fair, shall I impart The gods' decree, and tell you we must part?
DIDO
Thus on the fatal banks of Nile, Weeps the deceitful Crocodile; Thus hypocrites that murder act, Make heav'n and gods the authors of the fact!
AENEAS By all that's good...
DIDO
By all that's good, no more! All that's good you have forswore. To your promis'd empire fly, And let forsaken Dido die.
AENEAS
In spite of Jove's command I'll stay, Offend the gods, and Love obey.
DIDO
No, faithless man, thy course pursue; I'm now resolv'd as well as you. No repentance shall reclaim, The injur'd Dido's slighted flame; For 'tis enough, whate'er you now decree, That you had once a thought of leaving me.
AENEAS
Let Jove say what he will, I'll stay! No, no, I'll stay, and Love obey!
DIDO
Away, away! No, no, away! To death I'll fly if longer you delay. Away, away!
Exit Aeneas.
DIDO, continued
But Death, alas! I cannot shun; Death must come when he is gone.
CHORUS
Great minds against themselves conspire, And shun the cure they most desire.
DIDO
Thy hand, Belinda; darkness shades me, On thy bosom let me rest; More I would, but Death invades me; Death is now a welcome guest. When I am laid in earth, may my wrongs create No trouble in thy breast. Remember me! but ah! forget my fate.
CHORUS
With drooping wings ye Cupids come, And scatter roses o'er her tomb, Soft and gentle as her heart; Keep here your watch, and never part.
THE END.
Creative Team
Dido, Queen of Carthage
Chelsea Woodard (she/they) is a current Bachelor of Music student at the University of Calgary (UCalgary), and graduate of George Brown theatre school. Born and raised in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, she now calls Calgary home. She has directed and produced independent theatre in Toronto, as well as entertained audiences in Kananaskis Country through educational theatre. She has served as the soprano section principal with the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus since 2022. Recent credits include Gretel in Serious Family Fun (Opera Calgary), Vivienne in Legally Blonde (Theatre Calgary), Composer/musician in But What is Natural? (Alchemy Festival), Petra in A Little Night Music (NUOVA Vocal Arts), Bellboy/Ensemble in Titanic the Musical (NUOVA Vocal Arts), Joan/Nicole in The Book of Joan (Alchemy Festival), Ensemble/Musician in Light’s Out (UCalgary Mainstage), Miranda in Venus & Adonis (UCalgary Collegium Musicum), Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare by the Bow).
Second Lady
Mai Matsuzaka is an 18-year-old performer with extensive experience in musical theatre, advanced acting, and choral performance. During her time at FFCA South High School, she developed a strong foundation in vocal performance and character work, taking on several leading roles including Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Rusty in Footloose, Donna in Mamma Mia!, Wild Mary in Colours in the Storm, and Mary in Tuesdays and Sundays. These diverse roles reflect her versatility, stage presence, and commitment to storytelling.
Beyond the stage, Mai has been involved with the Lantern Peace Festival for over a decade, performing annually and serving as an executive member to help organize the community event.
Mai is currently pursuing a combined Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education at the University of Calgary and aspires to become a music educator who inspires the next generation of artists.
Second Witch
Tiffany Dong (she/her) is in her final semester at the University of Calgary, majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Chinese. With a lifelong love of music, she enjoys learning to play many instruments and has had the opportunity to receive vocal coaching from Iris Talbot for the past four years. In addition to music, she also enjoys creating visual art, reading science fiction and fantasy, and crocheting. With the encouragement of many of her family members and friends, Tiffany is grateful and excited to be able to finish her undergraduate degree by performing in her very first opera production.
Music Director
Soprano Julie Harris (she/her) holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Calgary and an Artist Diploma from the University of Toronto. She also spent a year studying early music at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Julie has appeared with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Toronto Consort, Opera Atelier, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Alberta Baroque (Edmonton) and La Cetra (Vancouver). Upon returning to Calgary in 1999, she founded the Early Music Voices Concert Series. Julie teaches voice at the University of Calgary, directs Collegium Musicum and directs the Chamber Choir in the Winter semester. She also teaches at Mount Royal University, maintains a private voice studio, and enjoys coaching various local community choirs and high schools.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Kathleen Morrison is an internationally acclaimed operatic soprano, described as “riveting” by Opera Canada. A passionate arts advocate, she is the Founder & Artistic/Executive Director of Alberta Vocal Arts Association, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and preserving the classical vocal arts. A 2025 nominee for Best Live Performer at the YYC Music Awards and a finalist in the 2025 RBC Concerto Competition, Kathleen is also pursuing her Master of Music degree at the University of Calgary.
In addition to her performance career, she serves as Director of Solo Voice Studies at the prestigious Renert School, and she owns Voice by Kathleen, a prominent vocal studio known for cultivating healthy vocal technique across multiple genres. She is also an in-demand adjudicator, clinician and presenter.
A born-and-raised Calgarian, Kathleen enjoys time with her Samoyeds, Alfie and Rosie, is a All-Star Trainer of the Year (2022) Certified Trick Dog Instructor and Vice-President of the Samoyed Association of Canada.
Aeneas, a Trojan prince
Nathan Severson-Baker is a bass-baritone, actor, improv theatre instructor, and undergraduate student. He is currently pursuing a bachelor of music program in voice performance at the University of Calgary, studying with Phillip Addis. Nathan has experience performing in a variety of disciplines, including art song, musical theatre, opera, early music, and scripted and unscripted theatre for the better part of the last thirteen years. Nathan performs regularly as a member of Spiritus Chamber Choir and The Kinkonauts: Calgary’s Improv Lab, as well as a number of ensembles at UCalgary, including the UCalgary Chamber Choir and Collegium Musicum. Nathan has performed roles with Cowtown Opera, Storybook Theatre, Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre Society, and Ambrose University Arts. Nathan is also proud to be the 2024 recipient of the Anthony G. Petti Memorial Scholarship for his performance as Adonis in Collegium Musicum’s 2024 production of Venus and Adonis: and the Rest of us.
Sorcerer
Anjo Escher, a first-generation Canadian from Alberta with Filipino and German roots, is currently in his 2nd year of the Bachelor of Music, Performance degree. Anjo's love of music began at an early age from karaoke nights at family gatherings and his friendships from the town of Rosebud. His childhood consisted of talent shows and hymns at his Catholic school in Drumheller, but his musical journey truly started when he moved to Calgary in 2019 where he became a part of his first choral ensemble. After spending a year studying at Mount Royal University, Anjo decided to pursue his passion for singing by auditioning for UofC's music performance program. Since then, Anjo has been apart of multiple choirs including the Alberta Youth Choir, UofC's elite Chamber and Collegium Choir, UofC's UChorus, Spirit Choir, and Youth Singers Act 3 division. He will also be representing Alberta this coming May in the National Youth Choir of Canada.
Sailor
Anna Theoret is Vocal major at the university of Calgary. She is 22 years old and loves exploring all genres of music including musical theatre works and indie folk music.
Stage Director
Vanessa is a stage director of theatre and opera, a teaching artist, and a dramaturg, arts leader, and writer based in Calgary.
For the School for Creative and Performing Arts, Vanessa directed Venus & Adonis… and the Rest of Us in 2023 and has taught in the Drama division since 2018. Selected opera experiences include co-creating and directing The Yuletide Sessions: a seasonal concert film; directing Amahl and the Night Visitors twice, and directing The Enchanted Child, and all for Calgary Opera. A favourite teaching opportunity was creating and leading You Are the Music While the Music Lasts: An Acting Intensive for Opera Singers, for the McPhee Artists at Calgary Opera. Other favourite directing includes Richard III starting Bruce Horak at The Shakespeare Company; Gracie by Joan MacLeod (Belfry Theatre/Alberta Theatre Projects); The Humans (Theatre Calgary); the English language world premiere of Christina The Girl King by Michel Marc Bouchard, translated by Linda Gaboriau (Stratford Festival); The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood (ATP, Arts Club Theatre), and the world premieres of The Erotic Anguish of Don Juan (ATP) and Pinocchio by The Old Trout Puppet Workshop (ATP, Magnetic North Theatre Festival).
As part of an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC, Vanessa is currently writing her first novel, Lucy in Berlin.
Belinda, Dido’s confidante
Tess Coleman, soprano (she/her), is a Bachelor of Music student studying voice at the University of Calgary under Julie Harris. In addition to Collegium Musicum, she is a member of the University of Calgary Chamber Choir who performed Home Alone in Concert in collaboration with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra this past school year. Past collaborations include the University of Calgary Chorus’ Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 Resurrection with the Calgary Youth Orchestra, singing with Korora and the Calgary Bach Choir. When she is not singing, she enjoys taking pictures and writing stories.
First Witch
Kyla Lomocso (she/her) is a fifth-year University of Calgary student enrolled in the Integrated stream of the Bachelor of Music program. She studies classical voice with Julie Harris and jazz voice with Johanna Sillanpaa. Over the years, her musical development included participating in various church choirs, playing the piano, and being often surrounded by amateur musicians. Her frequent exposure to a diverse array of musical genres has led her to an ardent desire to explore and perform as many as she can. She hopes to explore different genres from around the world and to learn about different cultures through music. In addition to music, she enjoys learning various languages and travelling.
Spirit
Justine Cherry, soprano (she/her), is in her third year of the Integrated Studies major in the Bachelor of Music program at the University of Calgary, studying voice under Julie Harris. She performs regularly with the University of Calgary Chamber Choir and Collegium Musicum, and previously sang with Mount Royal Artio. Justine has been singing from a young age, earning first place in her category at the Calgary Performing Arts Festival (formerly the Kiwanis Music Festival) in 2006.
In addition to performing, Justine is a passionate composer and will transition into the Composition major next year. Her original musical, SAND: A Musical Dramedy, has been published and produced twice by Cassa Musical Arts, where she also works as a summer vocal and acting coach. She is currently collaborating with Maria Bustos on a new commissioned musical, ENDY.ENTY. This year, she appears as the Spirit in Dido and Aeneas with Collegium Musicum.
Stage Manager
Sabrena Shah Baigzada is a second-generation Afghan Canadian artist and Stage Manager. Selected works include Assistant Stage Manager for Hucksterland (Chromatic Theatre and Good Work Thumbs Up Theatre), Apprentice Stage Manager for Dial M for Murder (Theatre Calgary) and Assistant Stage Manager for Static (Chromatic Theatre and Inside Out Theatre). Wherever Sabrena goes, you know that her bottomless bag of questions is always by her side, ready for anything and everything. She is thankful for her friends, family, and mentors for their endless support.
Credits
Chelsea Woodard – Dido, Queen of Carthage
Nathan Severson-Baker – Aeneas, a Trojan prince
Tess Coleman – Belinda, Dido’s confidante
Mai Matsuzaka – Second woman
Anjo Escher – Sorcerer
Kyla Lomocso – First witch
Tiffany Dong – Second witch
Anna Theoret – Sailor
Justine Cherry-Delisle – Spirit
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Orchestra
Sora Kim – Violin I
Gabriela Nunez Noguez – Violin II
Ethan Kim – Viola
Jerome Wang – Cello
Luke Haslbeck - Harpsichord Act 1
Derek Lee - Harpsichord Act 2
Yi Zhi Wang – Harpsichord/Thunder Act 3 -
University of Calgary Chamber Choir
Sopranos:
Julia Alvim
Tess Coleman
Elisabeth Hudson
Mika Klassen
Kyla Lomocso
Mai Matsuzaka
Nairilys Sogamozo
Altos:
Julia Brown
Justine Cherry-Delisle
Michelle Docking
Tiffany Dong
Janelle Lecomte
Anita Rios
Anna Theoret
Tenors:
Connor Burgart
Leo Chen
Benjamin Funk
Dawson Labun
Matt Pearson
Gino VelascoBasses:
Russel Agulto
Nate DeMong
Joel van Den Berg
Anjo Escher
Cormac McVean
Dreden Miller -
Creative Team
Julie Harris - Music Director; Collegium Musicum & Chamber Choir director
Vanessa Porteous - Stage Director
Sabrena Shah Baigzada - Stage Manager
Kathleen Morrison - Graduate Teaching Assistant, Collegium Musicum
Justin Luchinski - Harpsichord Coach
Andrea Neumann - String Coach
Andrea Case - String Coach
Dean O'Brien - String Coach
Lochlan Reed - Head of Wardrobe (Student Technician)
Abigail Monarrez - Lead Props Builder (Student Technician)
Xiaohe (Leo) Liu - Rehearsal Accompanist, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Chamber Choir
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Staff
Interim School Director JOELLE WELLING
Associate Director TBC
Dance Division Lead MELANIE KLOETZEL
Drama Division Lead JANE MACFARLANE
Music Division Lead ROD SQUANCE
Performance and Artist Coordinator ALIDA LOWE
Department Manager SACHI PERERA
Administrative Assistant ALEXANDRA LYONS
Academic Programs Specialist ROSABEL CHOI
Academic Programs Specialist CONSTANTINA CALDIS ROBERTS
Graduate Program Advisor ALISON SCHMAL -
Theatre Services
Venue & Client Relations Manager TBC
Venue Business Administrator ABIR BACHIR
Booking Administrator CATHERINE ROULEAU
Front of House Manager LIZZY EVASHKEVICH
Audio Technician BRAD HAWKINS
Lighting Technician JASON SCHWARZ
Scenic Carpenter SCOTT FREEMAN
Stage Technician IAN WILSON
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the School of Creative and Performing Arts and the University of Calgary for their guidance, facilities, and ongoing commitment to student performance and artistic excellence.
Josephine van Lier and Early Music Alberta for lending us baroque instruments; Andrea Neumann and String Theory for lending us a baroque violin; Justin Luchinski for lending us a digital harpsichord for several rehearsals.