Discover the upcoming dates for Benjamin Britten's opera, A Midsummer Night's Dream, around the world and book your tickets now!

THE POETIC OPERA OF A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

The magical opera of A Midsummer Night's Dream is set to music by the British composer Benjamin Britten with a libretto from Peter Pears. Based on the famous William Shakespeare play, the work is a highly individual piece of compelling sounds and textures. First performed in England in 1960 as part of the Aldeburgh Festival, the opera has since become one of the most frequently performed post World War 2 operas. Making use of a subtleness of tone and atmospheric setting, the opera is a favourite amongst lovers of unique performances.

THE STORY

Set around a mythical forest outside classical Athens, the story of A Midsummer Night's Dream is based in the world of ancient folklore and legend. The elements of fantasy and myth contain several key psychological themes that Britten made full use of. Unusually for Shakespeare, the original play was more concerned with the individual personalities of the characters, rather than the plot. Britten drew this out wonderfully, and the opera is a testament to modern staging and classical concerns.

MAIN ROLES

• Oberon, King of the Fairies, counter-tenor
• Tytania, Queen of the Fairies, soprano
• Puck, the King's servant, only speaking role
• Lysander, young lover of Hermia, baritone
• Hermia, young lover of Lysander, mezzo-soprano
• Hippolyta, the Amazon Queen, contralto