Young singing stars bring opera to The Fire Station
Purcell masterpiece to be staged in Sunderland
Anything touched by the Samling Institute for Young Artists tends to come up smelling of roses which is why its summer production of Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas promises to be blooming marvellous.
The fully staged and costumed production is taking place in July at The Fire Station, Sunderland’s versatile music venue which can still be called new – and in terms of opera is brand spanking new.
This marks its first association with the Hexham-based charity dedicated to helping young people realise their potential as classical singers.
Tamsin Austin, venue director, is delighted with the arrangement.
“At The Fire Station we welcome opportunities to support the career development of young artists,” she says.
“We’re hugely excited to be able to share our wonderful auditorium and its world class acoustics with some of the finest next generation of singers from the North East who, under the tutelage of Samling, will be performing alongside the world-renowned period music ensemble, Dunedin Consort.”
The Scottish ensemble, an award-winning champion of Baroque music, was formed 30 years ago and for most of that time has been under the musical direction of John Butt.
Karon Wright, artistic and executive director of Samling Institute, says Dido and Aeneas is “a perfect first opera for cast and audience alike”.
She calls it “a classic story about the clash between love and duty set to beautiful music by one of England’s greatest composers”.
Henry Purcell was born near Westminster Abbey in 1695 and was quick to make his mark in music, which was just as well since he was only 35 or 36 when he died.
His only opera, Dido and Aeneas, tells of the tragic affair – told in Virgil’s epic poem, The Aeneid – between the Queen of Carthage and the Trojan hero.
It was one of the very first English operas and is something of a miraculous survivor, although past Samling Academy productions – every one of them a revelation - suggest it is in good hands here.
The director is Royal College of Music professor Miranda Wright whose association with Samling goes back to when she attended one of its early masterclass weeks.
Choreography is by Mandy Demetriou from Royal Ballet and Opera.
Then there are the singers themselves, members of Samling Academy which was set up by Samling Institute in 2012 to support talented youngsters living or studying in the North East.
Among those it has nurtured is Tia Radix-Callixte, from Gateshead, who won a full scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music and returns to sing the part of Dido.
“I am thrilled to be part of this production and to be working once again with Samling Institute,” she says.
“Samling Academy has been incredibly supportive throughout my journey as a young singer, providing me with opportunities and guidance which have been instrumental in my development as an artist.
“Moreover, I am particularly looking forward to working under the musical direction of John Butt, whose approach I feel will bring extraordinary depth and life to this production.”
To Tia falls the challenge of singing Dido’s Lament, one of the best known arias from the Purcell opera.
Also in the cast is 17-year-old Ava Newby, from Sunderland, who joined Samling Academy after being inspired by a workshop it ran at her school.
“I’m so excited to be taking part in my first ever opera at The Fire Station this summer,” she says.
“Not only do I get to take the next steps in my singing journey with the help of Samling Academy, but it’ll be performed in Sunderland.
“It means so much to me that the magic of opera is being brought to the city where I’m from.”
Also due to perform are Max Robbins (as Aeneas), Arielle Loewinger (Belinda), Laura Postlethwaite (First Lady), Davina Halford-Macleod (Sorceress), Anna Forbes, Margretta Ibrahim and Megan Moffitt (Witches), Matilda Hayward (Spirit) and Ben Ryan (Sailor).
Joining Ava in the Chorus will be Samuel Davie, Jeannot Gantier-Houston, Madeleine Hague, Imogen Payne, Olivia Rose, Sam Ryan and Isabella Shea.
Dido and Aeneas, this year’s Samling Academy Opera, is being performed at The Fire Station, Sunderland on Thursday, July 17 and Saturday, July 19, at 7.30pm. You can book tickets via the Samling Institute website.