Reviews
Britten’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by Opera North at Leeds Grand Theatre
Benjamin Britten did not have enough time to both commission a libretto and compose a new opera for the 1960 Aldburgh Festival, so he and his partner Peter Pears decided instead to shape a Shakespeare play into an opera text.
The result is one of the happiest adaptations of the plays of Shakespeare and one in which Britten's music is in perfect harmony with this most beguiling of comedies.
Every nuance of romance, humour, allure and menace is to be found in Britten's inspired score: the enchanted woods are represented by a sighing' chromatic string texture heard frequently throughout the opera.
The Fairies enter to bright, metallic percussion. Puck, an acrobatic and spoken role, is accompanied by high trumpet and drum. Bottom and his group of Rustics are illustrated by low brass instruments.
Britten's deployment of vocal resources for this opera is unusual with normal' voices for the human characters and a chorus of children as the Fairies.
The Fairy King and Queen are respectively sung by counter-tenor and glittery colaratura soprano.
The important thing to say is that Martin Duncan's new production for Opera North is in perfect harmony with both Britten and Shakespeare. Duncan just flows along with the music and the action.
Johan Engels' setting of tall perspex screens and giant floating soap' bubbles together with Ashley Martin-Davis's vibrant and, for the Fairy Royals - literally dazzling costumes - create a fantastical, modern environment.
Bruno Poet's bold lighting bathes the stage in bright pinks, orange and blue to heighten the sense of wonderment and the childlike atmosphere of fairytale magic and mystery.
Opera North has assembled a dream cast which does full justice to the remarkable inventiveness of Britten's music. It is led by James Laing's Oberon whose icy tone gives the Fairy King just the right sinister edge. Jeni Bern brings her silvery, glittery colaratura and sleek, beautiful appearance to the role of Tytania, whilst the athleticism of the fleeting Puck is tailormade for actor Daniel Abelson.
The chorus of 18 delightful Fairy children will bring a tear to the eye and the group of Rustics led by Henry Waddington's Nick Bottom will warm the cockles of the heart.
The handsome quartet of lovers are energetically played and beautifully sung by Elizabeth Atherton, Frances Bourne, Peter Wedd and Mark Stone who reprises his role of Demetrius from Opera North's 1999 production.
Britten scores for a small orchestra but to telling dramatic effect. Under the direction of Stuart Stratford, every detail shimmers and sparkles with a translucent brilliance but then the Orchestra of Opera North are consummate interpreters of his music.
It is difficult not to imagine that the composer would have been immensely proud of these musicians, the singers and entire creative team involved in this production. Clearly, Britten and Shakespeare are not the only master magicians to have been at work.
Further performances at Leeds Grand on May 10,16, 22 and 24.
2:44pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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