A Midsummer Night's Dream
Between dusk and dawn, Elf King Oberon's kingdom turns into a playground for love. With a drop of magic potion, he influences the love life of his citizens and wife Tytania. Infatuation, infidelity, ecstasy, sadness and reconciliation fill the night.
Start time 7:30 pm
Run time 170 minutes, incl. intermission
Location Grote Zaal
Language English
Surtitles Dutch and English
Benjamin Britten wrote the magical opera A Midsummer Night's Dream, after Shakespeare's romantic comedy. Britten's low-key style ultimately allows for an unheard of outburst of indulgence in the woods. Director Ola Mafaalani discovers the sensuality in this score and pulls out all the stops.
Mafaalani's theatre is a feast for the senses and she has been called the empress of theatrical fantasy. ‘The children's choir doesn't just come up and sing, but bake and cook while singing. When you see those children at work, you experience that full unconditional love for everything around you again. It is my need to let A Midsummer Night's Dream be your own love affair,’ says Mafaalani.
This opera is a testimony about how cruel we can be in the name of love.
Together with a top cast of mainly Dutch and British soloists, special guest chef Andre Amaro and aerial artist Dreya Weber (known for working with P!nk), Mafaalani and acclaimed conductor Karel Deseure will enter a sultry midsummer night, with the aim of enchanting the audience.
Credits
cast
Oberon Jan Wouters
Titania Kristina Bitenc
Puck Dreya Weber
Theseus Quirijn de Lang
Hippolyta Eva Kroon
Lysander Ted Black
Demetrius Ed Ballard
Hermia Leonie van Rheden
Helena Liesbeth Devos
Bottom Marc Pantus
Flute Christopher Gillett
Quince Bart Driessen
Snug Andrew Greenan
Snout Mitch Raemaekers
Starveling Galen Dole
Cobweb Mona Beyersdorf
Peaseblossom Margarita Dučaka
Mustardseed Maria Kazaka
Moth Jeske de Haart
Fairies Limburgse Koorschool Kokoz
creatives
Musical direction Karel Deseure
Director Ola Mafaalani
Assistant director Lauren Poulton
Dramaturgy Willem Bruls
Set design André Joosten
Assistant set design Lobke Houkes
Lighting design Floriaan Ganzevoort
Costume design Regine Standfuss
Chef André Amaro
Orchestra philharmonie zuidnederland