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Mark Morris Dance Group's Dido and Aeneas at the Cutler Majestic

BOSTON, MA: Mark Morris Dance Group, one of the world's pre-eminent contemporary dance companies, brings its acclaimed masterwork "Dido and Aeneas" to Boston in May. The work features choreography by Mark Morris and music by English composer Henry Purcell; it is performed by dancers of Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) and the orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists of Emmanuel Music under the direction of Mr. Morris. Performances take place on Wednesday, May 28 at 7:30pm; Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 29-31 at 8:00pm; and Sunday, June 1 at 3:00pm at the Cutler Majestic Theatre, 219 Tremont Street, Boston.

Mark Morris' "Dido and Aeneas" premiered in 1989 in Brussels and is one of the Company's most well-known and acclaimed works. The choreography features Mr. Morris' signature combination of drama and irreverent wit, and his deep understanding of the music. The opera, believed to be England's first, was composed by Henry Purcell and was first performed in 1689 at a London girls' school. Based on a story from Virgil's "Aeneid," the opera tells the story of Dido, the legendary Queen of Carthage; Aeneas, the Trojan explorer with whom she falls in love; and the evil Sorceress who plots to drive the lovers apart.

Choreographer Mark Morris is a native of Seattle. He has created more than 120 works for MMDG, and his works are also in the repertory of major dance companies around the world. Mr. Morris is noted for his musicality and is widely considered to be one of the most musical of all contemporary choreographers. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including a MacArthur Foundation grant in 1991, and is the subject of a biography by "New Yorker" dance critic Joan Acocella.

Until 2000 Mr. Morris himself regularly danced the roles of Dido and the Sorceress in performances of "Dido and Aeneas." For the current engagement, these roles will be danced by members of MMDG's versatile company of dancers, and Mr. Morris will take over as conductor.

The Mark Morris Dance Group was formed in 1980 and gave its first concert that year in New York City. The company's touring schedule steadily expanded to include cities both in the U.S. and in Europe; from 1988 through 1991 MMDG spent three years in residence at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. The company returned to the United States in 1991 as one of the world's leading dance companies, and now performs regularly at the most prominent venues and dance festivals around the world. MMDG is noted for its commitment to live music, a feature of every performance on its touring schedule since 1996, and the Company collaborates with leading orchestras, opera companies, and musicians in the cities in which it performs. In 2001 MMDG opened the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, NY, which houses rehearsal space for the dance community, outreach programs for local children, and a school that offers dance classes to students of all ages.

Boston's Emmanuel Music was founded in 1970 to perform the complete cycle of J.S. Bach's sacred cantatas in the liturgical setting for which they were intended, an endeavor twice completed and a tradition that continues today under the direction of Acting Artistic Director John Harbison. Over the years, Emmanuel Music has garnered critical and popular acclaim through its presentations of large-scale and operatic works as well as its in-depth exploration of the chamber music repertoire. Emmanuel Music is a long-time collaborator with MMDG, and these performances of "Dido and Aeneas" are dedicated to the memory of Emmanuel's founder Craig Smith, who died last fall.

Tickets are $72, $52, $42. Telecharge.com at 1.800.233.3123; online at www.celebrityseries.com;  or in person at the Cutler Majestic Theatre box office, Monday through Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm (1:00 to 3:30 on performance Sundays). Student rush tickets are available day of performance; visit www.celebrityseries.org  for information.