Leicester MusicFest 2018’s grand opening was a brand new production of this favourite Baroque opera, featuring a community chorus supporting first-class professional principals, including Jetter Parker Young Artist Stephanie Wake-Edwards as Dido, Kathleen Ferrier Award-winner James Newby as Aeneas, and Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s Voice of the Future, Siân Dicker.

The performance was introduced by Professor Nigel Simeone (of BBC Radio 4’s Tales From The Stave) and the evening closed with a celebratory drinks reception.

The English Martyrs Auditorium. Leicester MusicFest. 09 February 2018.

Photos courtesy of Samuel Joseph

Cast & creatives

Conductor Roxanne Gull
Stage Director Simone Ibbett-Brown
Hesperides Quartet

Dido Stephanie Wake-Edwards
Aeneas James Newby
Belinda Avalon Summerfield
Second Woman Elspeth Piggott
Sorceress Siân Dicker
Witches Emily Owen, Elizabeth Unsworth-Wilson
Sailor Christopher Willoughby
Ensemble Leicester University Chamber Choir, Schola Cantorum