Concert Hall
April 7 & 8 | 7:00 p.m.
Henry Purcell
Liberetto by Nahum Tate
Directed by Dr. Anthony Buck
Conducted by Dr. Reed Criddle
Ashley Vasquez
Dr. Isaac Hurtado
Karllen Johnson
Sung in English with English supertitles.
The story of Dido and Æneas is over 2000 years old. The opera version by Purcell is 350 years old. But that doesn't mean it can't have resonsance and meaning for modern audiences. In our stripped down production, we use the context of modern social media pratcices to show how depression and cruetly have affected people from every period and culture. As we have put the production together, several students have told me that the ideas we're trying to convey have "hit close to home." I hope we can all go away from this production with a greater sense of the weight of our actions in the emotional lives of the people closest to us. Though this story ends in tragedy due to cruelty, indefference, and cynicism, the converse lessons are available to each of us: kindness, care, and hope are all within our grasp. This is my 6th production of this opera, and each time I do it, I love the music and the subtle nuances of the story more. I'm glad to share it with audiences at UVU.
Hear My Prayer, O Lord
Brittney Stradling
UVU Chamber Choir assistant conductor
Act I
Dido's Court
Dido, the Queen of Carthage, describes her sorrows to her friends. Belinda suggests that Dido might find happiness if she accepted the romantic overtures of the Trojan prince Æneas who has recently arrived in their court. Æneas shows up and suggests that he and Dido could be happy together. Dido agrees and all celebrate their union.
Act II
The Sorceress' Cave
The Sorceress summons her witches and tells them of her plan to thwart Dido's happiness: she will conjure a storm to disrupt Dido and Æneas' celebrations, and then send one of her minions disguised as the god Mercury with a message to Æneas from Jove ordering him to leave Carthage.
Act III
A Grove
After a hunting party, Dido, Æneas and Dido's court celebrate with stories and dances. The storm the Sorceress has conjured interrupts, sending all back to court. Æneas is detained by the Sorcceress' minion impersonating Mercury. She orders Æneas to leave and he sadly consents to the fake god's command.
Act IV
The Docks
Sailors prepare for Æneas' departure from Carthage, and the Sorceress and her witches rejoice at Dido's impending heartbreak. Æneas tries to reconcile with Dido but she angrily rebuffs him, refusing to accept his apolgies or affections. Overcome with grief at Æneas' departure, Dido dies.
Dido | Alice Packard |
Belinda | Emily Cheney Craddock |
2nd Woman | Megan Benson |
Æneas | Anthony Ruiz |
Sorceress | April Lewis |
1st Witch | Katherine Cox |
2nd Witch | Sarah Semadeni |
Spirit | Charlee Sorensen |
Sailor | Delaney Johns |
Dido's Court |
Megan Hahn, Alia Rampton, |
Witches | Louise Frazier, Sydney Pexton, Cristina Villalobos, Travis Lunt, Jamen Zohner |
Dancers | Annie Duggar, Elizabeth Jones |
Dido | Marlie Root Krough |
Belinda | Taci Miner |
2nd Woman | Madison O'Brien |
Æneas | Bryan Weatherston |
Sorceress | Savannah Webb |
1st Witch | Madalyn Barazoto |
2nd Witch | Amy Shafer-Larsen |
Spirit | Charlee Sorensen |
Sailor | Mallory Keele |
Dido's Court |
Megan Hahn, Alia Rampton, |
Witches | Louise Frazier, Sydney Pexton, Cristina Villalobos, Travis Lunt, Jamen Zohner |
Dancers | Annie Duggar, Elizabeth Jones |
Dr. Reed Criddle, conductor
Emily Cheney, Sarah Fisher, Taci Miner, Sydney Pexton, Megan Benson, Madison O'Brien, Amy Shafer-Larsen, Cristina Villalobos, Maddy Barazoto, Dixie Choque, Katherine Cox, Cambrielle Wright, Hannah Boyack, Molly Flake, Katrina McNiven, Brittney Stradling, Jared Constantine, Anthony Ruiz, Taesha Sau, Matt Watson, Travis Lunt, Spencer Macdonald, Jonathan Peterson, Jonah Walker, Mark Forsyth, Ethan Garff, Andra Johnson, Brisen Turner, Casey Copier, Braden Johnson, Talmage Ricks, Esera Mose
Our mission is to produce and present artistic excellence, which would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We thank them and express our deep gratitude to all patrons, supporters, and friends of The Noorda.
The arts possess the unparalleled power to inspire, educate, liberate, and transform. They elevate moments, mark milestones, soften edges, and generate profound meaning. Experience the beauty and wonder of the arts with us this season at The Noorda and begin at once to live!
Courtney R. Davis, J.D., M.A.
Dean, School of the Arts
Utah Valley University acknowledges that we gather on land sacred to all Indigenous people who came before us in this vast crossroads region. The University is committed to working in partnership—as enacted through education and community activities—with Utah’s Native Nations comprising: the San Juan Southern Paiute, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Uintah & Ouray Reservation of the Northern Ute, Skull Valley Goshute, Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation, Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute-White Mesa Community, and urban Indian communities. We recognize these Native Nations and their continued connections with traditional homelands, mountains, rivers, and lakes as well as their sovereign relationships with state and federal governments. We honor their collective memory and continued physical and spiritual presence. We revere their resilience and example in preserving their connections to the Creator and to all their relations, now and in the future.
With this statement comes responsibility and accountability. We resolve to follow
up with actionable items to make the School of the Arts at UVU and The Noorda Center
for the Performing Arts an inclusive, equitable, and just space for all. There is
much work to be done, and we are committed to putting these words into practice.
Artwork by Shane Walking Eagle (Sisseton Dakota).
Department Chair
JEFFREY O'FLYNN
Associate Chair
MELISSA HEATH
Administrative Assistant
CHRIS GINES
Choirs
REED CRIDDLE
CHERILYN WORTHEN
Orchestra/Cello
CHEUNG CHAU
Violin
DONNA FAIRBANKS
Clarinet
JEFFREY O’FLYNN
Trumpet/Music Theory
RYAN NIELSEN
Percussion
SHANE JONES
Piano
HILARY DEMSKE
Jazz/Commercial
DAVID BAKER
Voice
MELISSA HEATH
ISAAC HURTADO
Commercial Music
CHARLIE HAN
TODD SORENSEN
Theory
BRYCE RYTTING
Musicology
ROSS HAGEN
Director of Bands
CHRIS RAMOS