A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Benjamin Britten
Event details
A visually striking and atmospheric production of Britten’s retelling of Shakespeare’s tale is co-produced with Santa Fe Opera and will include members of our Youth Company as the children’s chorus. We are delighted that this large ensemble cast will feature returning Garsington artists, including Iestyn Davies and Lucy Crowe, bringing magic to the Opera Pavilion with its enchanting garden setting.
In a mystical world, humans are muddled and misled by the inhabitants of a fairy world, becoming the playthings of the quarrelling King Oberon and Queen Tytania. This tale of enchantment, madness and love is brought to life through Britten’s extraordinary orchestration, creating a sound-world of unearthly beauty. We welcome back Netia Jones as director/designer and Douglas Boyd to conduct our resident orchestra the Philharmonia, who have brought world-class playing to Garsington over the last few years.
Sung in English with English supertitles
★★★★★
“An outstanding British cast without a weak link, all of whom will be at the Royal Albert Hall in September when Garsington brings a version of this Dream to the Proms. Crowe is in gorgeous voice, her Come Now a Roundel luscious, and, under the influence of Puck’s narcotics, singing with honeyed inebriation.”
Neil Fisher, The Times, 17 June
★★★★
“Iestyn Davies’ ideally articulate and subtly voiced Oberon”
George Hall, The Stage, 17 June
★★★★
“Superbly played by the Philharmonia Orchestra under Douglas Boyd, bringing out all the unresolved tensions and sweet resolutions of the score”
Melanie Eskenazi, MusicOMH, 17 June
Cast & Creative Team
Cast
Oberon
Iestyn Davies
Tytania
Lucy Crowe
Puck
Jerone Marsh-Reid
Bottom
Richard Burkhard
Lysander
Caspar Singh
Demetrius
James Newby
Hermia
Stephanie Wake-Edwards
Helena
Camilla Harris
Theseus
Nicholas Crawley
Hippolyta
Christine Rice
Quince
John Savournin
Flute
James Way
Snug
Frazer Scott
Starveling
Geoffrey Dolton
Snout
Adam Sullivan
Creative Team
Conductor
Douglas Boyd
Director and Designer
Netia Jones
Lighting Designer
D.M. Wood
Choreographer
Rebecca Meltzer
Fight Director
Christian Sordelet
Philharmonia Orchestra
Garsington Opera Youth Company
Videos
Iestyn Davies sings Handel
Internationally acclaimed artist Iestyn Davies wowed our audiences with his “exceptional performance” in last year’s Mitridate, re di Ponto, and returns as Oberon, a role he revives after performing in the premiere of this production in Santa Fe.
Known for the beauty and musicality of his interpretations, this clip of his recording of “Oh Lord, whose mercies numberless” from Handel’s Saul, which he is remembered for performing at Glyndebourne, is the perfect preview of what we can expect.
Lucy Crowe singing The Messiah
Last seen on the Garsington Opera stage at Garsington Manor as Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) in 2005 and Elisa (Il re pastore) in 2007, Lucy Crowe is back as Tytania.
A much-loved soprano both at home and abroad, Lucy is known for her work both on stage and on disc with an extensive catalogue of recordings. Here is Lucy performing “I know my redeemer liveth” from Handel’s Messiah under the baton of Laurence Cummings at the London Handel Festival.
Gallery
