Britten's Midsummer's Night

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that Benjamin Britten obtained the plot for the opera, "Midsummer Night's Dream", from Shakespeare's play by the same name. The writer relates that in 1960 Britten, along with his companion, Peter Pears, presented it as a showpiece for friends and for a wide variety of talents. The writer points out that the opera contains a largely spoken, theatrical part, a boy's soprano choir, a large fairy who sings coloratura, a simple country bumpkin named Bottom whose head is turned into an ass' head by Puck and romantic subplots. The writer maintains that the opera is humorous and lyrical and a treat for the musical ear. The writer concludes that in this opera, the audience falls in love with Puck and with the fairies, as if the love-juice had been put on their own eyes.

From the Paper:

"Britten starts the opera in what was the second act of Shakespeare's play, but refers to what happened, so the audience does not feel anything is missing. The rustic folk, the fairies and the lovers are first presented in the woods around Athens and from there on the action never stops. The lead role of Oberon is sung by a countertenor, which is very rare, as leads are usually sung by tenors or basses. As the fairies appear, the well-known song, "Over hill, over dale" is heard, sung by Tytania's young boys' fairy choir. The strange relationship of Tytania and Bottom is the central romantic story that Britten chose to make the centerpiece of the opera. The dominating female fairy has a very difficult role to play, as she is attracted to Bottom, but is subject to Oberon and his accomplice, Puck, who make her life very difficult and her music hard to sing."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Britten-Pears Foundation. A Midsummer Night's Dream, 2007. <http://www.brittenpears.org/?page=britten/repertoire/opera/midsummer.html>.
• Karadar Classical Music. "Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream." Composer's BiographyComposer's Biography. <http://www.karadar.com/Librettos/britten_dream.html>.
• Britten, Benjamin. A Midsummer Night's Dream (the recording). February 6, 1990 <http://www.amazon.com/Midsummer-Nights-Dream-Britten-London/dp/B0000041WB>.

More papers on Britten's Midsummer's Night:

• Analytical Essay # 130550 : "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Poetry"
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• Analytical Essay # 125674 : "Dark Side of "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

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