Bernard Haitink conducts in this landmark recording of Peter Hall’s inimitable production.

Glyndebourne’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is pure magic. Brilliantly adapted from Shakespeare’s play, the opera follows the adventures of four lovers and a group of naïve rustics who, in a wood on a moonstruck midsummer night, fall foul of Oberon and Tytania, the quarrelling king and queen of the fairies.

In Peter Hall’s remarkable staging, the very wood comes alive as logs and trees move and rustle, creating ambiguous silhouettes in the dark mysterious woodland, lit only by designer John Bury’s wonderful rising sun and moon.

“The perfect Britten opera for this Sussex countryside setting” – The Times

“Peter Hall’s 1981 Glyndebourne production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream has long been regarded by many as the definitive staging of the work.” – The Guardian

Cast:
- Tytania: Ileana Cotrubas
- Oberon: James Bowman
- Bottom: Curt Appelgren
- Hermia: Cynthia Buchan
- Lysander: Ryland Davies
- Demetrius: Dale Duesing
- Helena: Felicity Lott
- Quince: Robert Bryson
- Snug: Andrew Gallagher
- Starveling: Donald Bell
- Flute: Patrick Power
- Snout: Adrian Thompson
- Theseus: Lieuwe Visser
- Hippolyta: Claire Powell
- Puck: Damien Nash

Director: Peter Hall
Designer: John Bury

Duration: approx. 156 minutes
Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, ES
FSK: 0