Chen Shi-Zheng is a director, choreographer, singer, and actor. He studied with some of the great masters of Chinese opera and became a leading traditional opera actor, performing in many productions throughout China. Mr. Chen emigrated to the United States in 1987 and has worked to create a new expression that crosses the boundaries between music, opera, theater, and dance, and between nationalities. In 1999, his staging of Tang Xianzu’s complete Peony Pavilion premiered as part of the Lincoln Center Festival. This production has subsequently been presented throughout the world and has been filmed for home video release. In 2000 he received the title of Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters from the French Government. Recent directing projects include work at the Spoleto Festival USA with conductor Grant Llewellyn, Lincoln Center Theatre, the Festival d’Automne à Paris, Hebbel-Theater in Berlin, and the Ensemble Modern in Frankfurt. This is Mr. Chen's second collaboration with the Handel and Haydn Society, following his acclaimed staging of Monteverdi's Vespers in September of 2004.

Chen Shi-Zheng directs Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, October 14-16, 2005.

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