Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano (Dido)
Nicholas Phan, tenor (Jephte and Aeneas)
Beth Taylor, mezzo-soprano (Sorceress)
Hugh Cutting, countertenor (Spirit)
Song Hee Lee, soprano (Belinda)
Jiayu Jin, soprano (Second Woman and Filia)
Massimo Altieri, tenor (Sailor)
Alena Dantcheva, soprano (First Enchantress)
Anna Piroli, soprano (Second Enchantress)
In a true season highlight, star mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato returns to Berkeley with the Italian period-music ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro in a program of Baroque music presented with exquisite freshness and flair. This time, DiDonato and company bring tragedy, performing Purcell’s brilliant and beloved opera Dido and Aeneas and Carissimi’s deeply emotive oratorio Jephte in concert. DiDonato has triumphed in opera houses worldwide as the tragic Queen of Carthage in Berlioz’s Les Troyens, but it wasn’t until 2024 that she first performed Purcell’s opera in its entirety. To hear her lend her “astonishing vocal prowess” (The Classical Review) to highlights like Dido’s famous lament, “When I am laid in earth,” with these telepathically sensitive accompanists promises to be a rare treat.
This event is part of Cal Performances’ Illuminations: “Innocence & Experience” programming for the 2026–27 season.
Major support for this performance is provided by Maria Manetti Shrem.
This performance is made possible in part by Helen Berggruen for Five Arts Foundation.
| CARISSIMI | Jephte |
| PURCELL | Dido and Aeneas |
Program notes will be available approximately one week before the performance.
7:30pm
There is a $20 service charge on all subscription orders, and a $15 per order service charge on ticket purchases made by phone or online that are not part of a subscription package. There is no fee for tickets purchased in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office unless they are part of a subscription.
Parking Alert
Parking may be a problem on campus for this performance due to a Cal Men’s Basketball game.
Many University parking lots will be reserved for patrons and city-owned lots may have a limited number of spots available. We advise you to arrive early and to consider alternative transportation.
Please see our Parking Alert section for more information.
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7:30pm
There is a $20 service charge on all subscription orders, and a $15 per order service charge on ticket purchases made by phone or online that are not part of a subscription package. There is no fee for tickets purchased in person at the Zellerbach Hall Ticket Office unless they are part of a subscription.