The Penn State School of Music will present Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas at 8 p.m. today and tomorrow in Eisenhower Auditorium.

The opera is directed by Susan Boardman and will be performed by opera students in the School of Music, along with the Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Gerardo Edelstein.

Based on books of Virgil's Aeneid, the opera is set in Carthage at the court of Queen Dido. Her courtiers and sister, Belinda, persuade her to admit her love for Aeneas, a Trojan prince who has stopped in Carthage on his travels and is dallying with her.

Witches plot the downfall of Dido and her city, and arrange to raise a storm so that the two lovers, who are out hunting, will be forced to seek shelter in a cave. There one of the witches, disguised as Mercury, the messenger god, will remind Aeneas of his duty to resume his voyage to Italy.

He is persuaded to leave and makes preparations. He tries to explain his destiny to Dido, but she brushes his explanations aside and makes ready for her death.

Tickets are price at $4.50 for students and $10 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at Eisenhower Box Office, or by calling 814-863-0255.