Garsington Opera

Written jointly by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, the libretto is faithful to Shakespeare’s words, while emphasising Queen Tytania’s inappropriate love for Bottom, caused by the mischievous magic of King Oberon and his servant Puck. The story takes place in a forest near Athens where two pairs of star-crossed lovers are wandering in confusion. By chance, in the same forest, a bitter quarrel between Tytania and Oberon is unfolding. The use of boys’ voices for the fairies and a counter-tenor for Oberon add to the ethereal atmosphere of the opera, in which order is finally returned to both mortal and supernatural worlds.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is directed by Daniel Slater, and conducted by Steuart Bedford. The cast includes Rebecca Bottone (Tytania), James Laing (Oberon), Andrew Staples (Lysander), George von Bergen (Demetrius), Anna Stephany (Hermia) and Katherine Manley (Helena).