A midsummer night’s dream; Seoul Arts Center (2)

Benjamin Britten's opera based on Shakespeare's original work, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", is a work in English instead of conventional French or Italian. Oberon, one of the main characters, is a countertenor. James Lang, who performed at the Royal Opera House in London, appears instead of usual “prima donna”.

The person who is leading the story of the opera is the fairy Puck. Kim Dong-wan, a member of the group Shinhwa, is a Cupid who conveys love and jumps around the stage throughout the performance.

In Act 1, Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Dmitrius' love interest are mixed and conflicted because the fairy Puck mistakenly shoots the arrow of love. In Act 3, lovers confirm each other's love. They watch a play in a play (Pyramus and Tisbe) in which the two lovers of the enemy family die due to misunderstanding. In addition, the laughter codes are everywhere in the middle, so the audience could be somewhat confused by the unexpected flow of the play. 

At the end of the play, it is understood that fairies, lovers, and villagers who act in the play are independent, yet are connected to each other. Puck's mistake, who only plays lines instead of singing, ends this complicated story dramatically with his closing comment.

Britten's music straightforwardly presents romantic melodies expressing lovers, and dreamlike music representing fairies. The two harp, harpsichord, chelesta, and triangle create a strange atmosphere by recreating the unrealistic world of fairies on stage. Conductor Felix Krieger (Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra) is going to perform exactly as needed for singers' breathing and movement, not in a hurry, but in line with the composer's intention. 

Stage designer Stefan Mayer's magnificent stage and lighting successfully implements a directing concept that crosses the boundary between fantasy and reality. Several simplified sets are capable of constantly showing dynamics wittily throughout indoors, forests, dreams, and reality.

Wolfgang Nägele, who shows detail and laughter through his directions, asks a question to the audience. 

Which do you aspire to more, the order of "marriage" or the magical "freedom" of a midsummer night?

This work may be unfamiliar to the audience who are accustomed to operas using recitative and aria with beautiful melodies. It is true that contemporary music with 12-tone scales, is considered somewhat esoteric. Yet, this opera can make the audience fall into a love story with dreamlike music that allows an encounter with fairies. 

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