Warning: this DVD may make opera lovers out of Shakespeare fans and vice versa. But all joking aside, this is a truly wonderful production. Colors are muted in this forest (until the sun comes up in the end), and the fairies, except for Damien Nash's redheaded Puck, are all in black and silver.
There's a pleasing quartet of young lovers, and a hilariously earnest band of rude mechanicals--the masque of "Pyramus and Thisbe" in the end is absolutely priceless. If pressed for an absolute standout, I'd have to go for two players--Roumanian soprano Ileana Cotrubas is a delicate Tytania and Curt Appelgren makes more than the most of Bottom, the hapless ass-headed weaver. Both performers are non-English speakers with faultless diction. But then, everybody does themselves (and Shakespeare himself) proud in this memorable production from Glyndebourne.
By the way, this show is staged by Sir Peter Hall, who filmed the Shakespeare original circa 1970, with a cast including Dame Judi Dench and Ian Holm. I understand it was quite different from this operatic outing, although I have still not managed to see it. In the meantime, this operatic setting of Shakespeare by Benjamin Britten will give many hours of pleasure.
There's a pleasing quartet of young lovers, and a hilariously earnest band of rude mechanicals--the masque of "Pyramus and Thisbe" in the end is absolutely priceless. If pressed for an absolute standout, I'd have to go for two players--Roumanian soprano Ileana Cotrubas is a delicate Tytania and Curt Appelgren makes more than the most of Bottom, the hapless ass-headed weaver. Both performers are non-English speakers with faultless diction. But then, everybody does themselves (and Shakespeare himself) proud in this memorable production from Glyndebourne.
By the way, this show is staged by Sir Peter Hall, who filmed the Shakespeare original circa 1970, with a cast including Dame Judi Dench and Ian Holm. I understand it was quite different from this operatic outing, although I have still not managed to see it. In the meantime, this operatic setting of Shakespeare by Benjamin Britten will give many hours of pleasure.