Composer

:

Benjamin Britten

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

1960

Average_duration

:

148:48

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is an opera composed by Benjamin Britten in 1960. The libretto was adapted by Britten and his partner, Peter Pears, from William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The opera premiered on June 11, 1960, at the Aldeburgh Festival in England. The plot of the opera follows the same basic storyline as Shakespeare's play. It is set in Athens and the surrounding woods, where the fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania, are in a dispute. Meanwhile, four young lovers become entangled in a love triangle, and a group of amateur actors rehearse a play to perform at the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta. The mischievous fairy Puck causes chaos by using a magical flower to make people fall in love with the first thing they see. The opera is divided into three acts, each with multiple scenes. The first act introduces the characters and sets up the conflicts between them. The second act takes place in the woods, where the lovers become lost and the fairy king and queen manipulate their emotions. The third act features the performance of the play by the amateur actors and the resolution of the various conflicts. Britten's music for the opera is characterized by its use of unusual instruments, such as the celesta and the harp, to create a magical and dreamlike atmosphere. The vocal writing is also notable for its use of intricate harmonies and complex rhythms. The opera features a large cast of characters, including multiple soloists and a chorus. 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is considered one of Britten's most successful operas, both critically and commercially. It has been performed frequently since its premiere and has been adapted into various other forms, including ballets and films. The opera's enduring popularity is due in part to its timeless themes of love, jealousy, and the power of the imagination.

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