Opera Philadelphia

Britten/Pears

A Midsummer Night's Dream A Midsummer Night's Dream videoPlayWatch

A Midsummer Night's Dream

U.S. Production Premiere
Music by Benjamin Britten
Libretto by Benjamin Britten & Peter Pears
Based on the play by William Shakespeare
Opera at the Academy
Performed in English with English supertitles

"A show that's so much fun."—The Guardian

Love triangles, mistaken identities, and alarming transformations—Shakespeare’s enchanting comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream gets the operatic treatment set to Benjamin Britten’s ethereal music. Follow the misadventures of fairies, nobles, and craftsmen over the course of one magical evening in the forest of Athens, recreated as a surreal dreamscape in director Robert Carsen’s delightful staging. Having toured the world for more than 25 years, Carsen’s renowned production finally makes its U.S. debut in the beautiful Academy of Music.   

Leading the cast are Tim Mead—praised for his “seductive and commanding” interpretation (The Guardian)— as Oberon, with the “mesmerizing” (The London Times) soprano Anna Christy as Tytania. Stage and screen actor Miltos Yerolemou, known for his role as Syrio Forel on Games of Thrones, joins them as the mischievous sprite, Puck. 

MapAcademy of Music

Dates are Feb. 2019.

Fri, Feb 8 8:00 p.m.
Sun, Feb 10 2:30 p.m.
Fri, Feb 15 8:00 p.m.
Sun, Feb 17 2:30 p.m.

The running time is approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission.

Production of the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence & Opéra National de Lyon

Production underwritten, in part, by Barbara Augusta Teichert

Opera at the Academy is underwritten, in part, by Judy and Peter Leone

Cast & Creative Team

Corrado Rovaris
Corrado RovarisConductor
Robert Carsen
Robert Carsen *Director
Emmanuelle Bastet
Emmanuelle Bastet *Revival Director
Tim Mead
Tim Mead *as Oberon
Anna Christy
Anna Christy *as Tytania
Miltos Yerolemou
Miltos Yerolemou *as Puck
Georgia Jarman
Georgia Jarman *as Helena
Siena Licht Miller
Siena Licht Milleras Hermia
Brenton Ryan
Brenton Ryanas Lysander
Johnathan McCullough
Johnathan McCulloughas Demetrius
Evan Hughes
Evan Hughes *as Theseus
Allyson McHardy
Allyson McHardy *as Hippolyta
Matthew Rose
Matthew Roseas Bottom
Miles Mykkanen
Miles Mykkanen *as Flute
George Somerville
George Somervilleas Snout
Zachary Altman
Zachary Altman *as Starveling
Brent Michael Smith
Brent Michael Smith *as Quince
Patrick Guetti
Patrick Guettias Snug
Jack Cellucci
Jack Cellucci *as Cobweb
Timothy O'Connor
Timothy O'Connor *as Peaseblossom
Evan Schaffer
Evan Schaffer *as Mustardseed
Payton Owens
Payton Owens *as Moth
  • Michael Levine * Set & Costume Design, Original Wigs and Make-up Design
  • Robert Carsen & Peter Van Praet * Lighting Design
  • Adrian Plaut * Revival Lighting Designer
  • Seth Hoff Assistant Director
  • Lisa Anderson Production Stage Manager
  • Matthew Bourne * Choreographer
  • Shelby Williams * Revival Choreographer
  • David Zimmerman Revival Wigs & Make-up
  • Alison Walker * Production Design Associate
  • Zeb Lalljee * Associate Costume Designer
  • Jennifer Shaw Assistant Stage Manager
  • Gregory Boyle Assistant Stage Manager
  • Elizabeth Braden Chorus Master
  • Philadelphia Boys Choir Children's Chorus
  • Jeffrey Smith Children's Chorus Master
  • *Opera Philadelphia debut
Benjamin Britten

The Composer

Benjamin Britten

Britten was born on St. Cecilia's Day, at the family home in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. His father was a dentist. He was the youngest of four children, with a brother, Robert (1907), and two sisters, Barbara (1902) and Beth (1909). He was educated locally, and studied, first, piano, and then, later, viola, from private teachers. Learn more about Britten.

 

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