Britten's Midsummer's Night Midsummer Night's Term Paper

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Those who watch the play make comments about how silly the play is and the play becomes more and more ridiculous, adding the parts of a Lion and Moonshine, played by two more rustics. In the play, the principle actors, Thisby and Pyramus kill themselves, as Romeo and Juliet did, then Pyramus rises to sing about his death, slumps into death, and then rises again to ask the audience if they would like to see an epilogue. Being refused an epilogue, the rustics leave and four fairies come in to dance and Puck chases them away with a broom before Oberon and Tytania appear with the other fairies, who claim they are off to bless lovers, as they themselves are in love.

The ending shows that purity and innocence win out, and that the ideal is the goal for all. Puck has the final say as he declares "all is mended, that you have but slumber'd here while these visions did appear. Gentles, do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend: Else the Puck a liar call; so, good night unto you all" (Britten 2007).

The composer uses music to set a tone, and in this opera several tones are present. Britten uses music a bit differently than other opera composers, in that his music is considered "modern," contemporary and uses sometimes atonal, librettos. The young boys' fairy choir is a wonderful idea for the young fairies who accompany Tytania. Tytania, also is unusual, in that her coloratura voice is strong, matching the strength of her counter-player in the opera, Oberon, and some beautiful songs were written just for her. However, her husband is making a fool of her in this opera and there are some real parodies of love songs also written for her as she embraces the ass-headed Bottom, the opposite of her own personal preferences.

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Others of the singers in this opera are Lysander and Hermia, who have a duet that uses the whole range of voice possible, showing how varied and far-ranging their voice is. Flute, a rustic, is accompanied by a silly flute theme whenever he appears, but has a beautiful voice and is wonderful to listen to.

This is a very interesting opera and entertaining, as many operas seem not to be. It has humor, lots of it, and appropriate music for the parts that are played. It is easily understood in English and the music is wonderful to listen to. Some of the pieces, such as "Welcome, wanderer!" are hard to listen to, as they have strange chords that are not usually heard in music. The whole opera is better seen than just listened to, as everyone says, as a large part of the entertainment is what is happening onstage. In this opera, one falls in love with Puck and with the fairies, as if the love-juice had been put on their own eyes.

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