Good Times

Bravo! The Israeli Opera's 40th season opened with a new original production of Dido and Aeneas, by Henry Purcell, directed by Stefano Poda, and conducted by Gerd Amelung. November 16-28.

An hour and a quarter of a performance that works on all the senses, and another quarter of an hour of applause, as the entire cast remained on stage and reaped the accolades. Bravo to each and every one of the partners in this success: to the singers, the actors, the dancers, the conductor and the orchestra, the conductor and the choir, the production - in short, to all those involved in the work. Bravo!

The opera 'Dido and Aeneas', directed by Hanan Snir, was the first work performed at the Israeli Opera when it was founded in 1985. Now, in an exciting encounter between past and present, a spectacular original production of one of the most beloved operas in the operatic repertoire will be staged at the Israeli Opera.

The new production of 'Dido and Aeneas' brings to the forefront the impressive journey the Opera has made in its 40 years of activity: from a young institution that began its journey with small-scale productions to a mature and creative body that currently produces original productions of international quality.

Stefano Poda, one of the most prominent creators in the contemporary opera world, is known as a total director - a multidisciplinary artist also responsible for the design of the set, costumes, lighting, and choreography.

Poda is known for his rich, visual, and spectacular theatrical language, which combines musical precision with dramatic and emotional movement. His connection to the Israeli Opera began with the unforgettable production of 'Faust' (2017), the special connection forged between him and the Opera House in Tel Aviv brought him back to us with 'The Tales of Hoffmann' (2022) and 'Rusalka' (2024): productions that have received much praise in Israel and abroad. Now he returns to us with a new production that he created especially for the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Israeli Opera.

Since the Israeli Opera opened its doors 40 years ago, it has taken it upon itself to raise and nurture Israeli opera soloists, who have grown over the years in the Meitar Opera Studio - the Israeli Opera's program for young singers. The Israeli soloists have captured the hearts of the audience in Israel, and many of them have also achieved international success. Today, when we can boast a long line of singers of the highest level, we are proud to open the 40th anniversary celebrations with a production in which all the participants grew up in the Meitar Opera Studio, including the leading Israeli soloists active today in Israel and around the world, including: Anat Czarny, Oded Reich, Shai Bloch, Daniela Skorka, Noam Heinz and others.

The production will be accompanied by the Barrocade Orchestra, the leading ensemble in Israel for the performance of baroque music on period instruments, which has specialized in performing baroque operas as part of its collaborations with the Israeli Opera in recent years. The production will be conducted by Gerd Amelung, a German conductor with extensive experience in baroque operas and early music. The Israeli Opera thanks Maestro Amelung for agreeing to join this production at short notice to replace Maestro Spinosi, who had to cancel his arrival in Israel due to health reasons.

Henry Purcell, one of the greatest English composers, is considered to have influenced the character of English music for hundreds of years. It is not clear in which year exactly he wrote 'Dido and Aeneas' (between 1683 and 1688) and under what circumstances (for King Charles II, King James II, or even for a girls' boarding school in London). Parts of it were also lost for almost 200 years during which the opera was not performed, until it was rediscovered at the end of the 19th century, and since then it seems as if it has never left the stage. Studies conducted over the years sought to complete the lost parts. At the Israeli Opera, they chose to add to the preserved version music for dance written by Purcell himself, and thus enrich the work with sweeping ballet segments that are suitable both to the character of Purcell himself and to the exceptional skills of the director, Stefano Poda, who is known for the unique choreography he creates in his works, and created for this production choreography for 16 dancers.

The libretto for the opera was written by Nahum Tate, the poet laureate of England, who adapted the love story of Dido, Queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, the Trojan hero, from Virgil's Aeneid (which was written at the beginning of the Roman Empire, and seeks to connect Greek mythology with the founding of Rome).

Storyline: The opera opens with the character of Dido, Queen of Carthage, who is in despair after losing her lover. Aeneas, the Trojan hero, arrives in the city and falls in love with Dido. However, Aeneas has a more important role than being Dido's partner: he is destined to establish Rome and thus turn the new city into the successor of the glorious culture destroyed in the Trojan War. But while in Virgil's Aeneid it was the gods who demanded that Aeneas leave Dido for the sake of his historical mission.

Nahum Tate chooses a different path: evil forces in the form of three witches and an evil spirit seek to sabotage the love of Dido and Aeneas and break the spirit of the Queen of Carthage. Indeed, the loss of another lover shatters Dido's heart and leads her to end her life. Thus, the original story about a conflict between sacred duty and love became a new story about coping with evil and about depression that leads to the tragic end of an admired figure.

The relatively short work (about an hour and a quarter) ends with one of the most beloved and famous pieces in the world of opera - Dido's Lament, which opens with the words "When I am Laid in Earth". In this aria, Purcell managed to create a pure expression of pain and human beauty together, and it has become over the years part of the permanent repertoire of the famous soprano singers in the world.

The Israeli soloists will participate in the production:

In the role of Dido: Anat Czarny / Tamara Navot. Mezzo soprano Anat Czarny led many productions at the Israeli Opera, including in the role of Julie in 'Theodor'. Tamara Navot starred in 'Hanoch Levin The Opera'.

In the role of Aeneas: Oded Reich / Noam Heinz. Baritone singers Oded Reich starred in many productions at the Israeli Opera, including in the role of Herzl in 'Theodor' and Belcore in 'L'elisir d'amore'. The lead role in 'Don Giovanni'. Noam Heinz is remembered as the young Theodor in 'Theodor'.

In the role of Belinda: The soloists Daniela Skorka and Tal Ganor.

Daniela Skorka is known for her role in the opera 'Mothers' and in the role of Susanna in 'The Marriage of Figaro' and Tal Ganor appeared in the role of Cherubino in 'The Marriage of Figaro' and Zerlina in 'Don Giovanni'.

In the role of the Witch: Mezzo soprano Shai Bloch who appeared in the role of Maddalena in 'Rigoletto' and Suzuki in 'Madame Butterfly'.In the role of Second Woman: Veronica Brook and Nur Darwish. Veronica Brook recently appeared as Gilda in 'Rigoletto' and Nur Darwish appeared in the role of Sophie in 'Werther'.

In the role of the First and Second Witches: Tali Katzaf, Efrat Baram HaCohen, Yarden Kipreman. In the role of the Sailor: Adi Ezra. In the role of the Spirit: Eitan Druri.

All of them have performed many roles at the Israeli Opera.

Dates and Ticket Purchase:

Sunday | 11/16/25 | 20:00

Monday | 11/17/25 | 20:00

Tuesday | 11/18/25 | 19:30 * Premiere

Thursday | 11/20/25 | 20:00

Friday | 11/21/25 | 13:00

Saturday | 11/22/25 | 20:00

Sunday | 11/23/25 | 18:00

Wednesday | 11/26/25 | 21:00 *Opera Lounge show for young people

Friday | 11/28/25 | 13:00

Ticket prices: 210-490 ₪