A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 64, 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, who instead was given the comic drag role of Flute/Thisbe.
| Librettist | Peter Pears (From William Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream.) |
| Date of composition | 1960 (October 1959 - May 1960) |
| Premiered | 1960, June 11th (Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh Festival) in Aldeburgh, United Kingdom |
| Dedicated to | 'Dedicated to Stephen Reiss' |
| Type | Opera |
| Catalogue | BTC 1098 |
| Approx. duration | 144 minutes |
| Spoken language | English |
| Instruments |
Voice (Contralto)
- Oberon, King of the Fairies
Voice (Soprano) - Coloratura ; Tytania, Queen of the Fairies Narrator, Recitant, Speaker - Puck Voice (Treble) - Cobweb Voice (Treble) - Mustardseed Voice (Treble) - Moth Voice (Treble) - Peaseblossom Voice (Tenor) - Lysander Voice (Baritone) - Demetrius Voice (Mezzo-Soprano) - Hermia, in love with Lysander Voice (Soprano) - Helena, in love with Demetrius Voice (Bass) - Theseus, Duke of Athens Voice (Contralto) - Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons Voice (Bass-Baritone) - Bottom, a weaver Voice (Bass) - Quince, a carpenter Voice (Tenor) - Flute, a bellows-mender Voice (Bass) - Snug, a joiner Voice (Tenor) - Snout, a tinker Voice (Baritone) - Starveling, a tailor |
| In listings |
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Famous Works
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| Autotranslations beta |
Benjamin Britten: A Midsummer Night's Dream, BTC 1098 Benjamin Britten: A Midsummer Night's Dream, BTC 1098 Benjamin Britten: A Midsummer Night's Dream, BTC 1098 |