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
- 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
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.