Musical versions A Midsummer Night's Dream

in 1826, felix mendelssohn composed concert overture, inspired play, first performed in 1827. in 1842, partly because of fame of overture, , partly because employer king friedrich wilhelm iv of prussia liked incidental music mendelssohn had written other plays had been staged @ palace in german translation, mendelssohn commissioned write incidental music production of midsummer night s dream staged in 1843 in potsdam. incorporated existing overture incidental music, used in stage versions through 19th century. best known of pieces incidental music famous wedding march, used recessional in weddings.

the choreographer marius petipa, more famous collaborations tchaikovsky (on ballets swan lake , sleeping beauty) made ballet adaptation imperial ballet of st. petersburg additional music , adaptations mendelssohn s score léon minkus. revival premiered 14 july 1876. english choreographer frederick ashton created 40-minute ballet version of play, retitled dream. george balanchine create midsummer night s dream ballet based on play, using mendelssohn s music.

between 1917 , 1939 carl orff wrote incidental music german version of play, ein sommernachtstraum (performed in 1939). since mendelssohn s parents jews converted lutheranism, music had been banned nazi regime, , nazi cultural officials put out call new music play: orff 1 of musicians responded. later reworked music final version, completed in 1964.

ralph vaughan williams on hill, on dale , act 2, third of 3 shakespeare songs set music british composer ralph vaughan williams. wrote pieces cappella satb choir in 1951 british federation of music festivals, , remain popular part of british choral repertoire today.

benjamin britten play adapted opera, music benjamin britten , libretto britten , peter pears. opera first performed on 11 june 1960 @ aldeburgh.

moonwork theatre company, moonwork put on production of midsummer in 1999. conceived mason pettit, gregory sherman , gregory wolfe (who directed it). show featured rock-opera version of play within play, pyramus & thisbe, music written rusty magee. music rest of show written andrew sherman.

the donkey show donkey show disco-era experience based on midsummer night s dream, first appeared off broadway in 1999.

other in 1949 three-act opera delannoy entitled puck premiered in strasbourg. progressive rock guitarist steve hackett, best known work genesis, made classical adaptation of play in 1997. hans werner henze s eighth symphony inspired sequences play.

the alexander w. dreyfoos school of arts theatre department presented show musical adapted/directed beverly blanchette (produced marcie gorman) using songs of moody blues. show called midsummer , subsequently performed @ morsani hall/straz performing arts center in tampa, @ florida state international thespian society festival. text/concept copyright, 9 december 2011.

in 2011, opera memphis, playhouse on square, , contemporary cappella groups deltacappella , riva, premiered michael ching s midsummer night s dream: opera cappella.