Midsummer Nights Dream, A

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Midsummer Night's Dream, A. Play (1593–4) by Shakespeare which has attracted several composers.

1. The Fairy Queen, 1691, adaptation (by E. Settle?) of Shakespeare for which Purcell wrote incidental mus. Shakespeare's text is not quoted.

2. Mendelssohn composed an Ov. in E major, Op.26, in 1826 when he was 17, adding additional items of incidental mus., Op.61, for a prod. of the play at Potsdam in Oct. 1843, these being: 1. Scherzo (entr'acte after Act 1). 2. Melodrama. 2a. Fairy March (Act 2). 3. You spotted snakes (2 sop. and ch.) (Act 2). 4. Melodrama (Act 2). 5. Intermezzo (entr'acte after Act 2). 6. Melodrama (Act 3). 7. Nocturne (entr'acte after Act 3). 8. Melodrama (Act 4). 9. Wedding March (after end of Act 4). 10. Melodrama. 10a. Funeral March (Act 5). 11. Bergomask Dance (Act 5). 12. Melodrama. 12a. Finale (Act 5).

3. Incidental mus. by Orff commissioned by Nazis when Mendelssohn's mus. was banned. 1st version 1939 (f.p. Frankfurt 1939; withdrawn), 2nd version 1944 (withdrawn), 3rd version 1952 (f.p. Darmstadt 1952), 4th version 1964 (f.p. Stuttgart 1964).

4. Opera in 3 acts by Britten to lib. ( Shakespeare's text) abbreviated by composer and Peter Pears. Comp. 1959–60. Prod. Aldeburgh 1960, S. Francisco and CG 1961, NY 1963, Glyndebourne 1981.

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