A Midsummer Night's Dream - Britten

Between dusk and dawn, Fairy king Oberon’s kingdom turns into a playground of love. With a drop of a magical love potion, Oberon intervenes in the love life of his subjects and wife Titania. Infatuation, infidelity, ecstasy, sadness and reconciliation roam the night.

The theater of Mafaalani is a feast for the five senses. Not only is there a focus on sight and sound but also touch, smell and taste are treated. According to Mafalaani, also called the empress of theatrical fantasy, opera has the capability to depict all sensory experiences. “The children’s choir doesn’t just come up and sing, they also bake and cook while singing. When you see those children at work, you experience that full unconditional love for everything around you again. It is my goal to let A Midsummer Night’s Dream become your own love affair.”

Ola Mafaalani, who makes her debut at Opera Zuid with this production, sees this opera as a testimonial of how cruel we can be in the name of love. “You can make your partner’s life hell and still say ‘I love you’. But these words carry an obligation. That applies to all your relationships.”