A Midsummer Night's Dream
More info on A Midsummer Night's Dream
Composer: | Benjamin Britten |
Librettist: | Benjamin Britten, and Peter Pears. After the play by William Shakespeare. |
Premiere: | 11 June 1960, Aldeburgh (Jubilee Hall) |
Language: | English |
Synopsis: | A Midsummer Night's Dream Synopsis |
Libretto: | A Midsummer Night's Dream Libretto |
Translation(s): | Not entered yet. |
About the opera A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is an opera with music by Benjamin Britten and set to a libretto adapted by the composer and Peter Pears from William Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was premiered on 11 June 1960 at the Aldeburgh Festival, conducted by the composer and with set and costume designs by Carl Toms.
Stylistically, the work is typical of Britten, with a highly individual sound-world - not strikingly dissonant or atonal, but replete with subtly atmospheric harmonies and tone painting. The role of Oberon was composed for the countertenor Alfred Deller. Atypically for Britten, the opera did not include a leading role for his partner Pears - it is the only one of his stage works that did not, other than the early operetta Paul Bunyan. Instead, Pears had the comic drag role of Flute/Thisbe.
Read more on WikipediaStylistically, the work is typical of Britten, with a highly individual sound-world - not strikingly dissonant or atonal, but replete with subtly atmospheric harmonies and tone painting. The role of Oberon was composed for the countertenor Alfred Deller. Atypically for Britten, the opera did not include a leading role for his partner Pears - it is the only one of his stage works that did not, other than the early operetta Paul Bunyan. Instead, Pears had the comic drag role of Flute/Thisbe.
Roles in A Midsummer Night's Dream
| Oberon | CounterTenor |
| Tytania | Soprano |
| Puck | Spoken |
| Cobweb | Treble |
| Mustardseed | Treble |
| Moth | Treble |
| Peaseblossom | Treble |
| Lysander | Tenor |
More details roles |
External links for A Midsummer Night's Dream
| Sheetmusic for opera |  Sheetmusicplus.com |
| Sheetmusic for opera | Sheetmusicplus.com |
| MP3's for this opera | on Amazon.com |
| DVD/CD's for this opera | on Amazon.com |
Popular videos from A Midsummer Night's Dream
When my cue comes call me
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Be kind and courteous
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Flower of this purple dye
Della Jones
Asleep, my love?
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Henry Herford
Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams
Robert Lloyd
Nr.Title sceneOperaComposerActTypeVoicesLang.Roles
1I am your spaniel Popularity: Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: 1Type: ariaVoice: sopranoLanguage: EnglishRoles: Helena
2I know a bank where wild thyme blows Popularity: Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: 1Type: ariaVoice: countertenorLanguage: EnglishRoles: Oberon
3In jurious Hermia Popularity: Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: 2Type: ariaVoice: sopranoLanguage: EnglishRoles: Helena
4Flower of this purple dye Popularity: Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: 2Type: ariaVoice: countertenorLanguage: EnglishRoles: Oberon
5Be kind and courteous Popularity: Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: 2Type: ariaVoice: sopranoLanguage: EnglishRoles: Tytania
6When my cue comes call me Popularity: Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: 3Type: ariaVoice: bass-baritoneLanguage: EnglishRoles: Bottom
7Come, now a roundel Popularity: Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: Type: ariaVoice: sopranoLanguage: EnglishRoles:
8Asleep, my love? Popularity: Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: Type: ariaVoice: tenorLanguage: EnglishRoles:
9Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams Popularity: Opera: Midsummer Night's Dream, AComposer: BrittenAct: Type: ariaVoice: baritone or bassLanguage: EnglishRoles: