(This "Discography" was generated by CLOR for THE COMPILER )
1 1966(LI) - Balkwill Bryan - Covent Garden*
2 1966(STU) - Britten Benjamin - London Symphony Orchestra*
3 1976(LI) - Davies Meredith - Covent Garden*
4 1978(LI) - Hose Anthony - Welsh Philharmonia Orchestra*
5 1981(LI) - Haitink Bernard - London Philharmonic Orchestra**
6 1990 - Hickox Richard - City of London Sinfonia*
7 1995(STU) - Davis Colin - London Symphony Orchestra*
8 1996(LI) - Atherton David - Metropolitan Opera*
9 2004(LI) - Daniel Paul - English National Opera*
10 2005(LC) - Bicket Harry - Gran Teatro del Liceo**
*AUDIO ---- **VIDEO ---- ***AUDIO & VIDEO
*********************************************************************
Conductor Bryan Balkwill - 1966(LI)
Orchestra - Covent Garden
Chorus - Covent Garden
Oberon - Josephine Veasey
Tytania - Elizabeth Vaughan
Puck - Kaplan Kaye
Thesius - Victor Godfrey
Hippolyta - Maureen Guy
Lysander - Alexander Young
Demetrius - Delme Bryn-Jones
Hermia - Janet Baker
Helena - Elizabeth Robson
Bottom - Michael Langdon
Quince - Dennis Wicks
Flute - John Lanigan
Snug - David Kelly
Starveling - Keith Raggett
Snout - Kenneth MacDonald
Cobweb - Nicholas Freakes
Mustardseed - Philip Celner
Peaseblossom - Alan Hammant
Moth - Gunther Wassertheurer
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Compact Disc - Oriel Music Society OMS 023/3 {3CDRS}
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
Comments:- Recording of a performance at Covent Garden. Oriel gives the date as «during 1969», but this opera was not performed with this cast during that year. It seems likely that it is a recording of the performance broadcast on 25 January 1966 (See Radio Times January 20 1966 p.38). The performance on 1 January 1966 is reviewed in OPERA March 1966 p.242.
*********************************************************************
Conductor Benjamin Britten - 1966(STU)
Orchestra - London Symphony Orchestra
Chorus - Choirs of Downside & Emanuel Schools
Oberon - Alfred Deller
Tytania - Elizabeth Harwood
Puck - Stephen Terry
Thesius - John Shirley-Quirk
Hippolyta - Helen Watts
Lysander - Peter Pears
Demetrius - Thomas Hemsley
Hermia - Josephine Veasey
Helena - Heather Harper
Bottom - Owen Brannigan
Quince - Norman Lumsden
Flute - Kenneth MacDonald
Snug - David Kelly
Starveling - Keith Raggett
Snout - Robert Tear
Cobweb - Richard Dakin
Mustardseed - Ian Wodehouse
Peaseblossom - John Pryer
Moth - Graham Clark
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Black Disc; - Decca MET 338-340 {3LPS} (1967)ª; Decca SET 338-340 {3LPS} (1967)ª; London A-4385 {3LPS}; London OSA-1385 {3LPS}
Compact Disc; - Decca(London) 425 663-2 {2CDS} (1990)ª
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
This recording is reviewed in the following publications:-
(The) Gramophone - May 1967 p.600; July 1967 p.53; May 1990 p. [MK]
Opera Quarterly - Vol.4 No.3 Autumn 1986 pp.176-178 [LG]
International Opera Collector - Autumn 1997 No.5 p.41 [PP]
Stereophile - February 1995 (Vol. 15 No.2) p.113)
The Record Shelf Guide - (4) p.117
Opera Actual (Barcelona) - No.88 marzo 2006 p.89 [JM]
*********************************************************************
Conductor Meredith Davies - 1976(LI)
Orchestra - Covent Garden
Oberon - James Bowman
Tytania - Jill Gomez
Puck - Julian Littman
Thesius - Robert Lloyd
Hippolyta - Gillian Knight
Lysander - Ryland Davies
Demetrius - Thomas Allen
Hermia - Anne Howells
Helena - Josephine Barstow
Bottom - Michael Langdon
Quince - Norman Lumsden
Flute - Francis Egerton
Snug - Dennis Wicks
Starveling - Keith Raggett
Snout - John Winfield
Cobweb - Nicholas Webb
Mustardseed - Graham Glass
Peaseblossom - Duncan Porter
Moth - John Fowlkes
------------------------------------------------------------------
Open Reel Tape - mr. tape 2067
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
Comments:- *Recording of a performance in the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 18 May 1976. This performance was broadcast by BBC Radio 3 (see Radio Times Issue dated 15-21 May 1976 p.39). The performance on 10 May 1976 is reviewed in OPERA July 1976 pp.672-673.
*********************************************************************
Conductor Anthony Hose - 1978(LI)
Orchestra - Welsh Philharmonia Orchestra
Oberon - James Bowman
Tytania - Rita Cullis
Puck - Sylveste McCoy
Thesius - Roderick Kennedy
Hippolyta - Patricia Price
Lysander - Arthur Davies
Demetrius - Henry Newman
Hermia - Margaret Morgan
Helena - Suzanne Murphy
Bottom - Geraint Evans
Quince - David Gwynne
Flute - John Treleaven
Snug - Ralph Hamer
Starveling - Julian Moyle
Snout - John Harris
Cobweb - Ian Jindal
Mustardseed - Simon Holt
Peaseblossom - Gareth Mason
Moth - Jeremy Cross
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Open Reel Tape - mr. tape 3096
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
Comments:- *Recording of a performance by Welsh National Opera which was simultaneously transmitted on television by BBC 2 and on FM-radio by BBC Radio 3 on 6 May 1978. See Radio Times Issue dated 6-12 May 1978 p.19, p.20.
*********************************************************************
Conductor Bernard Haitink - 1981(LI)
Orchestra - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Chorus - Glyndebourne Festival
Oberon - James Bowman
Tytania - Ileana Cotrubas
Puck - Damien Nash
Thesius - Lieuwe Visser
Hippolyta - Claire Powell
Lysander - Ryland Davies
Demetrius - Dale Duesing
Hermia - Cynthia Buchan
Helena - Felicity Lott
Bottom - Curt Applegren
Quince - Roger Bryson
Flute - Patrick Power
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Laser Disc; - Pioneer PILC 1103 (Japanese NTSC) (1991)ª; Pioneer PILC 9017 (Japanese NTSC) (1996)ª
DVD (Video) - Warner NVC Arts 0630 16911-2 (2004)ª; Kultur DVD 1411 (USA) (2004)ª
VHS Video Cassette - Kultur 1411 (NTSC) (USA); Castle Vision CVI 2008 (PAL) Warner NVC Arts 0630 16911-3 (PAL)
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
This recording is reviewed in the following publications:-
Opera - December 2004 pp.1530-1531 [GH]
Opera News - October 1995 p.61
Fanfare - Vol.28 No.3 January/February 2005 p.255 [MF]
The Classical Video Guide - p.34
American Record Guide - November/December 1995 Vol.58 No.6 p.303
International Opera Collector - Summer 1997 No.4 p.99
Classical Express - Issue No.87 June 1997 p.3
BBC Music Magazine - August 1997 p.21
International Record Review - January 2005 p.82 [MVA]
Opera Actual (Barcelona) - No.75 noviembre 2004 pp.78-79 [PMH]
Comments:- Recorded in the Glyndebourne Festival Theatre before an audience(24 August 1981)
*********************************************************************
Conductor Richard Hickox - 1990
Orchestra - City of London Sinfonia
Chorus - Trinity Boys' Choir
Oberon - James Bowman
Tytania - Lilian Watson
Puck - Dexter Fletcher
Thesius - Norman Bailey
Hippolyta - Penelope Walker
Lysander - John Graham-Hall
Demetrius - Henry Herford
Hermia - Della Jones
Helena - Jill Gomez
Bottom - Donald Maxwell
Quince - Roger Bryson
Flute - Adrian Thompson
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Compact Disc; - Virgin Classics VCD 7 59305-2 {2CDS} (1993)ª
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
This recording is reviewed in the following publications:-
(The) Gramophone - August 1993 p.79; October 1993 p.36
Opera - October 1993 p.1257
HiFi News & Record Review - November 1986 p.78
Opera News - February 19 1994 p.32
Fanfare - Vol.17 No.3 January-February 1994 p.144
Opéra International - No.172 septembre 1993 p.65
Diapason - No.397 octobre 1993 p.124
L'Avant Scène Opéra - No.156 p.116
Classic CD - September 1993 p.59
Répertoire - No.62 octobre 1993 p.39
American Record Guide - January-February 1994 p.85
Opera Actual (Barcelona) - No.71 junio 2004 p.81 [JS]
*********************************************************************
Conductor Colin Davis - 1995(STU)
Orchestra - London Symphony Orchestra
Chorus - New London Children's Choir
Oberon - Brian Asawa
Tytania - Sylvia McNair
Puck - Carl Ferguson
Thesius - Brian Bannatyne-Scott
Hippolyta - Hilary Summers
Lysander - John Mark Ainsley
Demetrius - Paul Whelan
Hermia - Ruby Philogene
Helena - Janice Watson
Bottom - Robert Lloyd
Quince - Gwynne Howell
Flute - Ian Bostridge
Snug - Stephen Richardson
Starveling - Neal Davies
Snout - Mark Tucker
Cobweb - David Newman
Mustardseed - Sara Rey
Peaseblossom - Claudia Conway
Moth - Matthew Long
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Compact Disc; - Philips 454 122-2 {2CDS} (1996)ª; Philips PHCP 5384 5384-5 {2CDS} (Japan) (1996)ª
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
This recording is reviewed in the following publications:-
(The) Gramophone - December 1996 p.139; April 1997 p.45; May 1997 p.52
Opera - April 1997 p.487
HiFi News & Record Review - June 1997 p.72
Opera News - January 25 1997 p.42
Fanfare - Vol.20 No.5 May/June 1997 p.115
Orpheus - Juni 1997 S.55
Opera Quarterly - Vol.14 No.2 Winter 1997/98 p.172 [JKL]
Opéra International - avril 1997 No.212 p.51
Diapason - No.436 avril 1997 p.68
L'Avant Scène Opéra - No.177 p.122
International Opera Collector - Winter 1996 No.2 p.84
BBC Music Magazine - January 1997 p.74
Classic CD - January 1997 p.74
Classical Express - Issue No.82 January 1997 p.2
American Record Guide - May/June 1997 Vol.60 No.3 p.92
Répertoire - No.101 Avril 1997 p.30
CD COMPACT (Barcelona) - No.97 marzo 1997 p.29
Le Monde de la Musique - No.209 avril 1997 p.96 [FL]
Opera Actual (Barcelona) - No.24 junio-agosto 1997 p.58
*********************************************************************
Conductor David Atherton - 1996(LI)
Orchestra - Metropolitan Opera
Chorus - Metropolitan Opera
Oberon - Jochen Kowalski
Tytania - Sylvia McNair
Puck - Nick Stahl
Thesius - Jeffrey Wells
Hippolyta - Victoria Livengood
Lysander - Kurt Streit
Demetrius - Rodney Gilfry
Hermia - Jane Bunnell
Helena - Nancy Gustafson
Bottom - Peter Rose
Quince - John Del Carlo
Flute - Barry Banks
Snug - James Courtney
Starveling - Bradley Garvin
Snout - Anthony Laciura
Cobweb - William Scot Murray
Mustardseed - Benjamin Diskant
Peaseblossom - Nicholas Frisch
Moth - Benjamin Ungar
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Compact Disc; - House of Opera CDNY 125 {2CDRS} (2008)ª
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
Comments:- *Recording of a performance at the MET (December 1996). The performance recorded is probably that of 21 December 1996 which was broadcast. The CDRs issued by House of Opera are included in the list of new releases added to HOO's website on April 9 2008.
*********************************************************************
Conductor Paul Daniel - 2004(LI)
Orchestra - English National Opera
Chorus - English National Opera
Oberon - Robin Blaze
Tytania - Sarah Tynan
Puck - Emil Wolk
Thesius - Iain Paterson
Hippolyta - Leah-Marian Jones
Lysander - Alfred Boe
Demetrius - Leigh Melrose
Hermia - Victoria Simmonds
Helena - Lynda Richardson
Bottom - Peter Rose
Quince - Graeme Danby
Flute - Christopher Gillet
Snug - Clive Bayley
Starveling - Leslie John Flanagan
Snout - Robert Burt
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Compact Disc; - Premiere Opera Ltd. 1537-3 {3CDRS} (2004)ª
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
Comments:- *Recording of a performance in the London Coliseum (June or July 2004). The performance on 23 June is reviewed in OPERA September 2004 pp.1106-1107 and that on 8 July 2004 in OPERA ACTUAL No.73 septiembre 2004 p.69. The performance on 26 June 2004 was broadcast by BBC Radio 3. See Radio Times Issue dated 26 June-2 July 2004 p.116. The CDRs issued by Premiere are listed in «Premiere Opera New CD Releases August 2004 Part II»
*********************************************************************
Conductor Harry Bicket - 2005(LC)
Orchestra - Gran Teatro del Liceo
Chorus - Escolania de Montserrat
Oberon - David Daniels
Tytania - Ofelia Sala
Puck - Emil Wolk
Thesius - Ned Barth
Hippolyta - Jean Rigby
Lysander - Gordon Gietz
Demetrius - William Dazely
Hermia - Deanne Meck
Helena - Brigitte Hahn
Bottom - Peter Rose
Quince - Henry Waddington
Flute - Christopher Gillet
Snug - Harold Wilson
Starveling - Andrew Foster-Williams
Snout - Francisco Vas
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DVD (Video) - EMI 3 39202 9 (2006)ª
ª(year of issue or re-issue)
Recordings of A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten are surveyed in the following publications:-
CELLETTI p.132; PENGUIN p.41; MET(VID) p.37; Opera Now May 1995 p.60; GIUDICI p.107 (2) p.169; American Record Guide July/August 1998 Vol.61 No.4 p.67; l'opera (Milano) Anno XV N.147 gennaio p.99
This recording is reviewed in the following publications:-
Opera - May 2006 p.616, p.618 [GH]
Opera News - April 2006 p.81 [AD]
Opéra Magazine - No.4 février 2006 p.71 [AF]
International Record Review - March 2006 pp.72-73 [CC]
Opera Actual (Barcelona) - No.92 julio-agosto 2006 p.80 [FGR]
Comments:- *Video recording made at performances in the Gran Teatro del Liceo (April 2005).
Abbreviations
(STU), "Studio" Recording
(SE), "Studio" Recording of Excerpts
(STC), Composite "Studio" Recording made up from more than one source
(SCE), Composite "Studio" Recording of Excerpts from more than one source
(LI), "Live" Recording
(LE), "Live" Recording of Excerpts
(LC), "Live" Composite Recording from more than one performance
(LCE), Excerpts from more than one "Live" Performance
(RA), A Radio Performance
(RE), Excerpts from a Radio Performance
(RC), Composite Radio Performance from more than one broadcast
(RCE), Excerpts from more than one broadcast performance
(FI), Film or/and sound track of a film
(FE), Excerpts of an opera from a film or/and the sound track of a film
CELLETTI, Il Teatro d'Opera in Disco by Rodolfo Celletti - Rizzoli - 1988
EJS Discography, EJS: Discography of the Edward J. Smith Recordings - The Golden Age of Opera, 1956-71 by William Shaman, William J. Collins, and Calvin M. Goodwin - GreenwoodPress - 1994
GIUDICI, L'Opera in CD e Video by Elvio Giudici - il Saggiatore Milano - 1995. Second Edition - 1999 - is indicated by (2)
HARRIS, Opera Recordings - A Critical Guide by Kenn Harris - David and Charles - 1973
MARINELLI, Opere in Disco by Carlo Marinelli - Discanto Edizione - 1982
MET, The Metropolitan Opera Guide to Recorded Opera - edited by Paul Gruber - Thames and Hudson - 1993
MET(VID), The Metropolitan Guide to Opera on Video - edited by Paul Gruber - W.W. Norton & Co. Ltd. - 1997
More EJS, More EJS: Discography of the Edward J. Smith Recordings by William Shaman - William J. Collins - Calvin M. Goodwin - Greenwood Press 1999
NEWTON (Verdi), Verdi - Tutti i libretti d'opera edited by Piero Mioli
PENGUIN, The Penguin Guide to Opera on Compact Discs by Edwin Greenfield - Robert Layton - Ivan March - Penguin Books 1993
Discos Gramófono (Barcelona), Compañía del Gramófono Sociedad Anónima Española
Gramófono (Barcelona), Compañía del Gramófono Sociedad Anónima Española