A Mock-Opera

Words by Shakespeare
Set to Music by John Frederick Lampe
With a Little Help From Purcell’s A Fairy Queen

The GRAMMY-winning BEMF Chamber Opera Series returns to 18^th-century London and John Frederick Lampe’s hilarious follow-up to The Dragon of Wantley. Audiences were flocking to new Shakespeare adaptations, and if you can’t beat them, join them!

With “words taken from Shakespeare” and his play-within-a-play from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lampe’s Pyramus & Thisbe expands the emotional range of the original to include heart-rending lyricism between the episodes of typically English silliness. Drawing on the rich tradition of the English masque, the production weaves in music and dance from Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, bringing an enchanting world of poetry and theatrical wonder to Lampe’s delightful parody.

Falling in love through a crack in a wall, ill-fated Pyramus and Thisbe plan a moonlit rendezvous in the shade of a mulberry tree, before a ferocious lion gets in the way and a tragedy of misunderstandings ensues. Vibrant staging, lavish costumes, and gorgeous Baroque dance bring this satirical romp to life with an all-star cast of singers, dancers, and instrumentalists in this new production led by Musical Directors Stephen Stubbsand Paul O’Dette, Stage Director and Choreographer Marie-Nathalie Lacoursière, and Concertmaster Robert Mealy.

PRE-OPERA TALKS: Join us one hour before each performance in Boston for an engaging talk featuring celebrated author and musicologist Ellen T. Harris