Ballet
The Dream
This is Ashton's one-act take on A Midsummer Night's Dream, and it's a little gem of English ballet. He zeroes in on the fairy world and the lovers' chaos in the forest, set to Mendelssohn's gorgeous incidental music. The real showstopper is the tender reconciliation duet between Oberon and Titania at the end.
Fast facts
- Composer
- Felix Mendelssohn (arranged by John Lanchbery)
- Choreographer
- Frederick Ashton
- Premiere
- 1964, London
- Structure
- One act
- Running time
- About 55 minutes
The story
Drawing on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the ballet unfolds in an enchanted moonlit wood where the fairy king Oberon and queen Titania are quarreling. Oberon sends the mischievous Puck for a magic flower whose juice makes sleepers fall in love with the first thing they see, which sends both the fairy royalty and four human lovers into a tangle of mistaken affections. Puck sets everything right by morning, capped by a radiant pas de deux as Oberon and Titania make peace.
What The Dream is famous for
- Ashton's quicksilver choreography for Oberon
- The tender final Oberon and Titania duet
- Mendelssohn's beloved Midsummer music
- Puck's bounding, comic solos
Companies that perform The Dream
The Dream is in the repertoire of companies including The Royal Ballet.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
How is The Dream different from other Midsummer Night's Dream ballets?
Ashton condensed the story into a single act focused on the fairies and lovers, unlike Balanchine's fuller two-act A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's tighter and built around Oberon and Titania.
Who wrote the music?
Felix Mendelssohn, whose famous overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream was arranged for the ballet by John Lanchbery.
What's the hardest role?
Oberon is famously demanding, full of fast, intricate footwork and jumps that Ashton created to show off the dancer's speed and precision.
Who composed The Dream?
The Dream was composed by Felix Mendelssohn (arranged by John Lanchbery).
How long is The Dream?
The Dream runs about 55 minutes.