A lush Baroque double-bill

An alluring world of gods and goddesses, passionate love and tragic consequences awaits as the Florentine Opera presents a sensuous double-bill featuring two timeless Baroque works: The earliest surviving British opera and the first English operatic masterpiece.

John Blow's sumptuous Venus & Adonis illuminates the unparalleled pleasure and unsurpassed heartbreak caused by fatal attraction, while Henry Purcell's Dido & Aeneas tells an enthralling tale of two lovers forced to choose between passion and duty. The intimacy of Vogel Hall's jewel-box theater is the perfect setting to experience the lush Baroque melodies and breathtaking scenes that will seduce your ear, enchant your eye and forever stir your soul.

Sung in English. The two works will be presented at each performance with one 25-minute intermission between operas.

• Synopsis of Venus & Adonis
         Composer John Blow's biography
• Synopsis of Dido & Aeneas
         Composer Henry Purcell's biography
• Cast and Artist information 
  
  
• Performance Information
  
  
• Venus & Adonis / Dido & Aeneas for the Eye and the Ear
  A survey of available complete recordings by Corliss Phillabaum

• Pre-Opera Talks by Corliss Phillabaum will be offered in the upstairs (balcony) lobby of Vogel Hall one hour before each performance. Please note that there is limited seating for these events.
• Performance run time: Each opera will be performed at each performance, seperated by a 25-minute intermission. The length of the entire production, including intermission, is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Support

Specials thanks to Production Sponsor Nita Soref.

The Florentine Opera thanks Wisconsin Public Radio, our 2010-2011 Season Statewide Public Media Partner.