Work: Dido and Aeneas

Alice Nellis' staging of Purcell's masterpiece is both historically faithful and innovatively modern. With Collegium 1704 providing the early music chops, it's a rare treat.

*****

Stunning acrobatics, a forlorn farewell: Dido and Aeneas in Sydney

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Zoltán Szabó, 13 Mar

Yaron Lifschitz mesmerises from the opening tableaux’s row of candles in his Purcell staging for Opera Australia, featuring Circa, a Brisbane-based circus company.

****1

Purcell and beyond: Errollyn Wallen’s dramatic new Dido’s Ghost

David Smythe, 06 Jun

A dramatic new opera from Errollyn Wallen, with the Dunedin Consort, chorus and a strong cast including Isabelle Peters, Matthew Brook, Nardus Williams and Allison Cook.

****1

Bachtrack top ten: Opera in English

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David Karlin, 22 Apr

From Henry Purcell to George Benjamin, a set of ten operas to demonstrate that English is not just a language for prose and poetry, but also a vibrant language for opera.