A Midsummer Night's Dream

Adelaide Festival regrets to announce that owing to ill health Taryn Fiebig has had to withdraw from singing the role of Hermia in Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a consequence, her husband Jud Arthur has also withdrawn in order to care for Taryn. The Festival sends Taryn every good wish for a speedy recovery.

We are extremely fortunate that distinguished Australian mezzo soprano Sally-Anne Russell will be taking on the role of Hermia, and that Pelham Andrews will now sing the role of Snug. Adelaide-based Jeremy Tatchell will sing the role of Starveling.

We are very thankful to Sally-Anne, Pelham and Jeremy for their flexibility and willingness to take on these roles at such short notice.

Theatres are currently being sold at a reduced capacity in line with SA Health guidelines. This event is currently sold at 75% capacity and as a result, patrons will be required to wear masks for the duration of the show, as directed by the SA Government.

ADELAIDE FESTIVAL
By Benjamin Britten
Directed by Neil Armfield

Benjamin Britten’s musical transformation of Shakespeare’s most loved comedy is something of a miracle: apart from a single short sentence, every word is that of England’s finest poet; every fibre and comic nuance of the play is preserved.

And while a lesser composer might have merely adorned a masterpiece, he created a new one of his own: with its graceful haunting melodies, iridescent orchestration, headily perfumed harmony, and filigree-like vocal textures - there’s nothing in the repertoire like it.

Neil Armfield directs an exceptional cast, led by Paul Kildea conducting the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and with rising star, American counter tenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen as Oberon, Rachelle Durkin as Tytania, Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Theseus, Warwick Fyfe as Bottom and the wonderful Young Adelaide Voices children’s choir.

We’ve endured a year like no other. Seize the chance to laugh and gasp with other human beings, to feel the air vibrate with the shimmering sounds of string and wood, metal and breath. Enter this blissful bubble and surrender to the trusted experts: Shakespeare, Britten and Armfield.

“A fantastical soundworld that envelopes you in its glittering magic.” Stage Door

A co-production of Houston Grand Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera and Canadian Opera Company presented by Adelaide Festival in association with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra

The presentation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been made possible by the Adelaide Festival Chairman’s Circle, the Adelaide Festival Opera Donor Circle (Leading Patron Maureen Wheeler AO) and MM Electrical.