The Goethe Choir was founded in 1965 as the Goethe-Institut Choir at the request of the Director of the (then) German Cultural Institute, Dr Eugen Vetter, to enable engagement with choral music by singers and audiences in Dublin.
The choir will be presenting a semi-staged performance of Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas—one of the most significant works in the Baroque opera repertoire—at the Civic Theatre, Tallaght.
Adapted from Virgil’s Aeneid it tells the tragic love story of Dido, the Queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, a Trojan hero.
The cast is led by Irish mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty and Irish baritone Benjamin Russell in the two title roles, supported by rising young soprano Hannah Gries and popular Irish soprano Katy Kelly. The performance also features dancer Robyn Byrne, internationally acclaimed classical guitarist Perry Schack and the Lumiere Quartet—led by Irish Baroque Orchestra leader Claire Duff. All will be under the baton of the choir’s musical director John Dexter.
The performance will be held in The Civic on Tues 20th May. Tickets are on sale HERE
The first performance of Dido and Aeneas outside England took place on December 14, 1895, in Dublin.
Composer: Henry Purcell
Conductor: John Dexter
Choreographer: Stephanie Dufresne
CAST
Goethe Choir
Dido – Sharon Carty
Aeneas – Benjamin Russell
Belinda – Hannah Gries
Sorceress – Katy Kelly
Dancer – Robyn Byrne
Guitar Solo – Perry Schack
Harpsichord – David O’Shea
Lumiere Quartet
