Thomas - Le Songe d'une Nuit d'Ete (Michel Swierczewski)

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Thomas - Le Songe d'une Nuit d'Ete (Michel Swierczewski)

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Thomas's Le songe d'une nuit d'ete is not, as one might expect, a setting of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. What it is, however, is a fantasie lyrique in which the characters of Shakespeare, Elizabeth I and Sir John Falstaff all play a part. Apart from the delightful overture and the exquisite tenor aria, "Ou suis-je," the music is perhaps not as memorable as that found in Thomas's other operas such as Hamlet or Mignon, but it is not without its gossamer charm. The production (taped on May 7, 1994) was mounted to celebrate the opening of Le tunnel sous la Manche (the Channel tunnel that now links England and France). In fact, the opera ends with Shakespeare and Elizabeth I walking slowly towards the entrance of the Chunnel–presumably on their way to France. Next to the modest set designs, the costumes (provided by the Royal Shakespeare Company) look more than opulent. Soprano Ghyslaine Raphanel, although somewhat lacking in stage presence, sings Queen Elizabeth's coloratura flights of fancy with ease. Alain Gabriel, as Shakespeare, makes a stronger impression than in Henry VIII, while Jean-Philippe Courtis obviously enjoys his assignment as the bold and bawdy Falstaff.

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Thomas - Le Songe d'une Nuit d'Ete (Michel Swierczewski)

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