Our Samling Academy Opera production of Dido and Aeneas combined homegrown talent and international excellence – and showed why the North East is the place to be for young classical singers. Three-quarters of the cast of current and recent Academy Singers grew up in North East England and most of the chorus are still at school.
Not only did they have their first experience of performing a fully staged opera, but they did so with one of Europe’s leading ensembles, Dunedin Consort, directed by John Butt. Samling Artist Miranda Wright directed the production and Mandy Demetriou devised the choreography and coached the cast in the intricacies of baroque dance and gesture. Adding to the ‘firsts’, this was the first live opera to be staged at The Fire Station in Sunderland and our first visit to this new venue.
All photos: (c) Mark Pinder Photography
