The SUU Opera, under the direction of Prof. Carol Ann Modesitt, presents the sixth installment of the 2024-2025 Music Masterworks Series. The two chamber operas to be performed are Mark Bucci's Sweet Betsy From Pike: A Horse Opera and Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas.

Sweet Betsy From Pike: A Horse Opera Synopsis from "The Guide to Musical Theatre"

A twenty-five-minute opera-satire, Sweet Betsy from Pike is a musical cartoon retelling the tale of Betsy and Ike and their experiences in the wild and woolly West, in particular, Betsy's fate at the hands of Dirty Dan. Written as a series of delightful musical variations on the old American folk tune, this engaging piece is a natural introduction to opera for children and adults alike, using grand opera's conventions to hilarious effect.

Dido and Aeneas Synopsis from The Kennedy Center

Dido and Aeneas is based on Book IV of Virgil's Aeneid. It recounts the love of Dido, Queen of Carthage, for the Trojan hero Aeneas, and her despair when he abandons her. A monumental work in Baroque opera, Dido and Aeneas is remembered as one of Purcell's foremost theatrical works.

Ticket Prices:

• Adults: $10
• Alumni: $8
• Youth/Non-SUU Students: $5
• SUU Students/Faculty/Staff: FREE (with a valid I.D.)