Midsummer Night's Dream

I went to hear Britten's opera "Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Met.   I have very little aquaintance with the music of Britten, having been in graduate school in music during the period when Britten was not to be mentioned.  I have also composed several scores based on the play, so I had additional incentive to hear it.   The most successful musical versions, though, have been those with mostly incidental music (Purcell and Mendelssohn), and not full settings with the play as libretto.   Unlike Ades' version of the Tempest, Britten uses the original text, with judicious cuts.

I enjoyed the opera, though, for me, Britten still does not speak to me personally.  Like the play, the opera combines contrasting moments of magic, love, and burlesque.  There are some very intriguing moments, especially in the magical parts; but then we get into moments of music-hall farce.  I never get tired, though, of hearing the Met orchestra.  Britten's orchestration is often very delicate, and hearing every detail is a delight.
The production is brightly colorful without being particularly striking in any way.

It's not every day that you see a countertenor (Oberon) in a flashy chartreuse suit: