An aria re-membered. Directed by Nicole Beutler, in collaboration with Silbersee & Ulrike Quade Company.
DIDO DIDO is an up-close confrontation with mythical Queen Dido's tragic fate. Director/choreographer Nicole Beutler and het musical counterpart Romain Bischoff took their inspiration for this performance from Henry Purcell's most celebrated aria: 'Dido's Lament' from the opera Dido and Aeneas. Defeated by love and forsaken by her people, Dido decides to take her own life. "Remember me, but forget my fate." It is the paradox in these last words however, that make her fate so hard to forget. Five singer-musicians and one dancer are impassioned by Dido, as they breathe life into a puppet based on the Japanese tradition of bunraku. As in a feverish dream they penetrate the very heart of Dido's despair and will-power. With instruments from different corners of the world they deconstruct, repeat and rearrange the classical aria. In doing so, they are delaying the inevitable end, carving out time and space for a gentle letting go. DIDO DIDO: an incantational parting opera that crawls deep under the skin.
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
© Anja Beutler
REVIEWS
Cast & Credits
Concept: Nicole Beutler, Romain Bischoff
Direction, choreography: Nicole Beutler
Musical direction: Romain Bischoff
Co-creators, performers: Arnout Lems, Heather Ware, Maya Alban-Zapata, Michaela Riener, Raphaela Danksagmüller, Tiemo Wang
Design puppet, coaching puppetry: Ulrike Quade
Costumes: Jessica Helbach
Set and light design: Sascha van Riel
Music: Henry Purcell, Wouter Snoei and performers
Assistant director & dramaturgy: Fabienne Vegt
Puppet maker: Watanabe Kazunori
Painting backdrop: Ellen Windhorst and Bas Peeperkorn
Assistant choirs: Els Mondelaers
Assistant puppeteer: Tim Hammer, Pluck Venema
Puppeteering workshops: Ruben Mardulier, Suze van Miltenburg
Technicians: Martin Kaffarnik, Wouter Snoei
Production: Nicole Beutler Projects, Silbersee, Ulrike Quade Company
Thanks to: Hillary Blake Firestone, Natascha Young, Wout van Tongeren, Justa Ter Haar, Keren Levi and all participating choirs
Campaign image: Corinne Mercadier, Fata Morgana, serie Solo, 2012, courtesy Galerie Les filles du calvaire, Paris
Graphic design: Connie Nijman
Scene photography: Anja Beutler
Teaser: Bowie Verschuuren
Trailer: Bas de Brouwer
Made possible by the support of: Amsterdams fonds voor de kunst, Fonds 21, VSBfonds, Fonds Podiumkunsten.