Samling Academy Opera's performances of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at The Fire Station, Sunderland

Singers from the North East are joined by Dunedin Consort on period instruments and their director John Butt for Samling Academy Opera's performances of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas at The Fire Station, Sunderland on 17 and 19 July 2025.

The opera will be directed by Miranda Wright who was on the Samling Artist Programme in 1999 and teaches at the Royal College of Music, Newcastle University and Durham University.

Dido is sung by Tia Radix-Callixte from Gateshead who takes part in Roderick Williams' public masterclass at Smith Square Hall on 4 June at the fundraiser for Pegasus Opera's Mentoring Programme. Aeneas is Max Robbins with Arielle Loewinger, Laura Postlethwaite, and Davina Halford-Macleod. Over half the cast joined Samling Academy from state schools in North East England.

Founded in 1996, the Samling Institute helps young people who live or study in the North-East to find and develop their talent for classical singing through Samling Academy. Singers aged 14–21 explore all aspects of classical singing and develop wider performance skills, led by expert vocal coaches, song pianists, actors and movement specialists. Samling Academy Opera draws on the expertise of the professional Samling Artist Programme, with Samling Artists acting as directors, musical directors and accompanists. A Samling Artist singer is often included in the cast, to mentor and inspire the younger singers. 

Full details from the Samling website.