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Benjamin Britten

A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64

Opera

Op. 64 Composed 1960 Stage

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.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Movements

  1. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Be it on lion, bear, or wolf, or bull" (Oberon, Demetrius, Helena)
  2. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Come, now a roundel, and a fairy song" (Tytania)
  3. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Fair love, you faint with wand'ring in the wood" (Lysander, Hermia)
  4. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "How now, my love" (Lysanda, Hermia)
  5. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Is all our company here?" (Rustics)
  6. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Oberon is passing fell and wrath" (Fairies, Oberon, Tytania)
  7. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Over hill, over dale" (Fairies, Puck)
  8. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Stay, though thou kill me, sweet Demetrius" (Helena, Demetrius, Lysanda, Hermia)
  9. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Through the forest I have gone" (Puck)
  10. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Welcome, wanderer!" (Oberon)
  11. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "Well, go thy way" (Oberon, Puck)
  12. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "What thou seest when thou dost awake" (Oberon)
  13. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act I. "You spotted snakes with double tongue" (Yaogd;)
  14. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "Are we all met?" (Rustics, Puck)
  15. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "Be kind and courteous to this gentleman" (Tytania)
  16. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "Flower of this purple dye" (Oberon, Puck, Lysander, Helena, Detrius, Hermia)
  17. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "Hail, mortal, hail!" (Fairies, Bottom, Tytania)
  18. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "How now, mad spirit" (Oberon, Puck, Demetrius, Hermia)
  19. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "I have a reas'nable good ear in music" (Bottom, Tytania)
  20. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "I see their knavery" (Bottom, Tytania, Fairies)
  21. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "On the ground, sleep sound" (Fairies)
  22. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "Puppet? Why so?" (Hermia, Helena, Lysander, Demetrius)
  23. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "This is thy negligence" (Oberon, Puck)
  24. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. "Up and down, up and down" (Puck, Lysander, Demetrius, Helena, Hermia)
  25. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act II. Introduction: the Wood
  26. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "Asleep, my love?" (Flute/Thisby)
  27. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "Come, your Bergomask" (Theseus)
  28. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show" (Quince/Prologue)
  29. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "Have you sent to Bottom's house?" (Rustics)
  30. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "Helena! - Hermia! - Demetrius! - Lysander!" (Demetrius, Lysander, Helena, Hermia)
  31. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "If we offend, it is with our good will" (Rustics)
  32. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "In this same interlude it doth befall" (Snout/Wall)
  33. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "My gentle Robin, see'st thou this sweet sight?" (Oberon, Puck, Tytania)
  34. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "Now the hungry lion roars" (Fairies, Puck, Oberon, Tytania)
  35. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "Now, fair Hyppolyta" (Theseus, Hyppolyta, Lysander, Demerius, Helena, Hermia)
  36. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "O Wall, full often hast thou heard my moans" (Flute/Thisby, Bottom/Pyramus)
  37. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "O grim-look'd night, o night with hue so black" (Bottom/Pyramus)
  38. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "Sweet Moon, I thank thee for thy sunny beams" (Bottom/Pyramus)
  39. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "This lanthorn doth the hornèd Moon present" (Starveling/Moonshine, Flute/Thisby, Snug/Lion)
  40. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "When my cue comes, call me" (Bottom)
  41. A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III: A Midsummer Night's Dream, op. 64: Act III. "You, ladies, you whose gentle hearts do fear" (Snug/Lion)

Elsewhere

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