Marianne Lipanovich for San Francisco Classical Voice

While Mark Morris is best known for his dancing and choreography, this September Bay Area audiences will have a chance to see him in the role of conductor when his Mark Morris Dance Group joins the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, baritone Philip Cutlip, sopranos Yulia Van Doren and Céline Ricci, and tenor Brian Thorsett for the Cal Performances presentation of Dido and Aeneas. Morris’ choreography for this Purcell opera is considered one of the classics of modern dance, and it’s paired with Blythe’s Cal Performances debut. It promises to be an exciting evening of music and dance. Morris, as always, has strong opinions on both conducting and dancing, which he was willing to share with SFCV.