A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s play is currently performed at the Lille Opera, an event not to be missed !

A masterpiece by Shakespeare

This is the spectacle of the Lille Opera not to be missed. First, because A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a masterpiece by Shakespeare. Then because the music of a very inspired Benjamin Britten is wonderful. Finally because Laurent Pelly’s staging, served by a large cast of excellent singers (little known) is of a very pleasing intelligence and poetry.

Adapted by Benjamin Britten

In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, strange creatures roam the night in the woods near Athens, and different worlds live there without crossing paths. The Lovers don’t know that the Rustics exist. Neither the Rustics nor the Lovers know that they are surrounded by fairies. And only the ingenious Puck can travel from one world to another. Illogical, you say? Of course, since it is a dream ! But rest assured : the whole art of Shakespeare, masterfully adapted by Benjamin Britten, is to transform this confusion into a magical comedy of love.

Ironic and romantic

In 1960, the composer was pressed for time : he absolutely had to conceive an opera for the Aldeburg festival and only had seven months to spare… He therefore chose a work that was more than familiar to him. Sometimes ironic, sometimes romantic, sometimes realistic, sometimes fantastic, the atmospheres created by Britten happily bring together his different inspirations: popular folklore songs like the banter of his Little Chimney Sweep… A past master in the art of phantasmagoria, the director Laurent Pelly, after the enchantments of King Carrot in 2018, wanted for this dream a shimmering night in which to accomplish all flights, and where even the most down-to-earth situations overcome gravity. The adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy by Benjamin Britten sparkles, moves and delights on the Lille stage, thanks to the staging of Laurent Pelly, the musical direction of Guillaume Tourniaire and a vocal cast close to perfection.

Lille Opera

 Place du Théâtre,

59000 Lille

A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten. Directed by Laurent Pelly. Musical direction by Guillaume Tourniaire. Lille Opera, 9, 11, 13, 18 and 20 May at 8 p.m. May 15 and 22 at 4 p.m.