Dido’s Lament (Revisited)

“Dido’s Lament (Revisited)” is a bold new work tracked and mixed entirely in quarantine. Composer (and New Amsterdam’s co-artistic director) William Brittelle's piece juxtaposes elements of Henry Purcell's famed 16th-century aria with '80's synths and guitars, bit crushed samples, and newly written lyrics. "Dido" was created in collaboration with the Metropolis Ensemble led by Grammy-nominated Andrew Cyr, a “vibrant collective” (New York Times) dedicated to creating a future for classical music that is of and for the time in which we live. Metropolis musicians Brad Balliett (bassoon), Ben Cassorla (guitars), Paul Wiancko (strings), and Immanuel Wilkins (sax) tracked the piece remotely with the guidance of mixing engineer Zach Hanson (yMusic, The Staves, S. Carey). The piece is graced with the “satin vocals” (Pitchfork) of acclaimed singer Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes, Bon Iver) and Holland Andrews (Like a Villain), whose stunning performance brings startling depths of emotion to Purcell's deconstructed aria. "This project, birthed in the early days of the pandemic and executed entirely in quarantine, functioned as an artistic lifeline during an extremely isolating stretch of time,” explains Brittelle. “For me, ‘Dido’ stands as a testament to the centrality and durability of making records for the modern musician - especially in the face of challenging circumstances (to say the least). I'm extremely thankful to Andrew, Zach, the incredible musicians of Metropolis, graphic designer Brock Lefferts, and the supremely talented and generous Jenn Wasner and Holland Andrews for bringing this project to life."