Credits:

Nicholas Kok

Description:

Purcell: *The Fairy Queen*English National OperaPurcells grand opera *The Fairy Queen* is based on Shakespeares *A Midsummer Nights Dream*. The libretto is attributed to Elkanah Settle, and it weaves together the best episodes from the original work into a superb narrative. This work was originally a semi-opera, in which spoken dialogue played a significant role (with the music serving more as an accompaniment, performed during love scenes or supernatural events); however, in recent productions, the dialogue is almost always cut, and the opera proceeds entirely through music.In this production directed by Bountney, the audience can simply enjoy the utterly enchanting and colorful stage design. Dancers also play a major role, and the superb movements of the dancers portraying the fairy Puck and the Indian boy are particularly noteworthy. The singers singing and dancingwhich seem to caricature th