Itยs hard to improve on A Midsummer Nightยs Dream, Shakespeareยs flawless theatrical masterpiece, but itยs also enticing to imagine what it would be like if the tale of feuding fairies, magic flowers and royal weddings were set to song. The Houston Grand Opera will fulfill this fantasy with an opera based on the play, with music by the late British composer Benjamin Britten (the production is part of a five-year series of Brittenยs operas). Welsh countertenor Iestyn Davies makes his company debut as Oberon, and Laura Claycomb returns to the HGO stage as Tytania. Throw in sweeping, ethereal sets, mischievous sprites, a childrenยs chorus, and stage combat so elaborate the show needed a ยfight director,ย and Shakespeare himself might have been left wondering why he didnยt ditch the meter for the scales. 7:30 pm. January 23 and 31, and February 4 and 6. 2 p.m. January 25. Wortham Center, 500 Texas. For information, call 713-228-6737 or visit www.houstongrandopera.org. $25 to $205.
Fri., Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Sun., Jan. 25, 2 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m.; Wed., Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.; Fri., Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m., 2009
This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2009.