St. Mary’s Abbey of Morristown, New Jersey is joining forces with Somerset Hills Chorus of Music and LOTUS Chorale to present Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas” on May 4, 2024.

The opera will star Emily Skilling as Dido with Christopher Herbert as Aeneas. Skilling is the South Carolina District winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions while Herbert is a professor and Head of the Voice program at William Paterson University. Herbert will also assist in semi-staging the opera for the May 4 showcase which features production design by Chee Bravo.

Joining the duo is Kristin Sands as Dido’s handmaiden, Belinda; Alicia Brozovich as Second Witch and Second Woman; and Margaret Bergmark-Williams as the Spirit and the First Witch.

The soloists are joined by the ensemble the Sebastians under conductor Stephen Sands.

The performance kicks off at 7 p.m. local time.