David Garcia Mendez

Music Appreciation
Lisa Maurer
April 1, 2017
Dido and Aeneas

On Friday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. I attend to witness to the Dido and Aeneas

Opera, by Henry Purcell. The Opera was performed in the Hinton Hall of Middle

Tennessee State University. The interpretation was in charge of Karen Petersen, Interim

Dean - College of Liberal Arts and Michael Parkinson, Conductor of the opera.

The Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell, is based on the book of Virgils epic poem,

The Aeneid, in his first and only sung-work. It was composited on 1688, during the Baroque

Period. Henry Purcell was an extraordinary English composer, that since his young age,

showed up his ability with the violin and organ. He was named composer of the Kings

violin and replaced Blow as organist of Westminster Abbey.

In this Opera, I could appreciate the beauty of the music arts, the greatness of the

compositions regarding the Baroque period, and the importance of the acting on stage.

Although I was impressed by the hole opera, the last act made a more lasting impression on

me. In the followings paragraphs, Im goanna describe all the features, that I could be able

to recognize regarding my musical knowledge.

Environment.

The Environment of the Opera was as many other operas I attended before. The

principal features were the following; The size of the room was relative small; its capacity

was around one-hundred people. I could recognize that the room had a semilunar shape, so
that the acoustics of the sounds were uniformly distracted along the spectators. The hall

was equipped with caustic reflectors at the top of the stage, that will later serve through the

opera. In the front of the stage was a platform, which was used by the musicians, who once

the opera started, this one went down, so that the actors in the scene could be appreciated.

Clothing.

The clothing worn by the musicians was in a formal style. For the mens the

wardrobe consists in black suits, while for the womens wore black gowns. The conductor

wore a black suit as well. It should be mentioned that all the music of the opera was made

by the university students. The clothing worn by the performers wasnt what I expected. It

consisted of a rather simple attire, which did not capture the attention of the public in any

way. Provoking that the opera became boring at various times. The main actors as they are;

Belinda, Dido and Aeneas could use a wardrobe that highlight from the rest of the second

characters; however, they use the same as the others.

Characters.

The characters represented in this opera were as follows.

Dido. Kimberly Lacy.

Belinda. Mileah Milstead.
Second Woman. Emily Harrison.
Sorceress. Mary Vaughan.
First Witch. Tori Peterson.
Second Witch. Hannah Sims.
Spirit. - Amelia Lufkin.
Aeneas. Nate Paul.
First Sailor. Collin Peterson.
Audience.

The audience was diverse, there were; students, teachers, visitors of other schools, partners

and parents. My father and I wore formal clothing, because we though that if it was an

opera it should be a formal outfit; however, when we arrived to the hall, all the people was

wearing normal outfits. The only persons that were wearing formal clothes were the

teachers and the people in charge of the event, in respect to the audience.

Direction / Production.

The persons that were in charge of this event were.

Conductor: Michael Parkinson.

Stage Director: H. Stephen Smith.
Costume Coordinator: Hannah Sims.
Set Construction: Michael Baggarly.
Music Director: Joseph Walker.
Set Designer: Stephen Levenghen.
Make up Design: Tori Peterson.

Orchestra.

Orchestra: In this opera, the bowed string and keyboard instruments were used.

(1st Violin. 2nd Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass and Harpsichord).

1st Violin Linda Fry, Quinen Han.

2nd Violin Nicolas Brucker, Josh Claude.
Viola Rodericous Coger.
Cello Amber Den Exter.
Bass Evan Reincheinfield.
Harpsichord Joseph Walker.