Humphrey Carpenter presents three operas by Benjamin Britten this week, beginning with English National Opera's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Composed for the 1960 Aldeburgh Festival, Britten's opera sticks faithfully to Shakespeare's story of lovers, fairies and rustics and their comic woodland antics and accidents. The countertenor King Oberon and his coloratura Queen Tytania prompt the events of the magical night and Britten's equally magical music. Sung in English.
Trinity Boys' Choir
English National Opera
Orchestra/Steuart Bedford Acts 1 and 2 8.10 Aspects of Britten A Very British Britten The first of four programmes.
Jeremy J Beadle looks at the way Britten and Peter Pears adapted Shakespeare in pursuit of their personal ideals of innocence and love.
8.30 Act 3
Production sponsored by KPMG Billy Budd Monday 7.25pm