This is a charming performance of Britten's delicious setting of the Shakespeare play. It takes a little getting used to a female mezzo voice in the role of Oberon, written for Alfred Deller, though Josephine Veasey does a fine job. Janet Baker's distinctive timbre is instantly recognizable as Hermia, but all the four lovers are fine (shout out to Alexander Young, a personal favorite). Elizabeth Vaughan makes a mightily impressive Titania--no twittering coloratura, she brings power to the role of the fairy queen. In all, a lovely treat.

Absolutely brilliant.A unique service brilliantly done.

WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE! A MUST!

Fabulous work, ruined for those of us allergic to the noises made by the curious Dame Janet.

In my humble opinion, Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream is the greatest English opera since Peter Grimes, and one of the greatest of Shakespeare operatic adaptations. But I am biased. I was Moth (and later Cobweb) over a period of three years from the London performances with Solti onwards. I have the distinct recollection of a nightmare moment when the gauze curtain failed to rise on the final scene of Act III, leaving the fairies uncertain whether to sing "Now, now the hungry lion roars". Disaster was averted by the stern tones of Ms Veasey (as Oberon) hissing "SING!!!!!", and we obeyed the command. Ms Veasey may have been a late replacement for countertenor Grayston Burgess.This did not occur at Covent Garden or Edinburgh, so it must have been at the New Theatre Coventry or the Grand Theatre Leeds - and definitely before 1966 because I was a tenor by then! I don't believe any of us thought a mezzo Oberon felt quite 'right', no matter how well it was sung. As someone has already pointed out, the other-worldly quality was missing. There had been much fuss about the importation of Russell Oberlin (what a lovely guy he was!) but he sang it superbly in 1961. It is his sweet but clarion voice I hear in my head, even today.

Glorious. And to hear Dame Janet In her only appearance, ever, as Hermia is simply astounding. The entire cast is drawn from some of the most superb singers England ever produced. And the sound is quite marvelous.

Another great MND in the Gieldud/Piper production at Covent Garden. But this performance is unique for two reasons. Firstly, it is the first and only time at CG that Oberon was sung by a mezzo - in this case the splendid Josephine Veasey who was a noted Fricka, Eboli and Dido; secondly it marked the CG debut of Janet Baker in a role she never sang again. In addition we have the superb Tytania of Elizabeth Vaughan who was a noted Verdi and Puccini soprano and the surprisingly successful Bottom of Michael Langdon more noted as Hunding and Ochs. Much recommended

This opera is one of the most magical works for stage ever created and this energetic cast does a lot to sell it!