A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Curtis Institute of Music
Source: https://www.curtis.edu/event/midsummer-nights-dream-apr-30-2526
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:10
A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Curtis Institute of Music
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A Spellbinding Opera of Love and Mischief.
Magic and mischief intertwine in
Benjamin Britten
’s enchanting adaptation of
William Shakespeare
’s romantic comedy
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
. Critically acclaimed director
Sarah Ina Meyers
and dynamic international conductor
Vinay Parameswaran
lead a dazzling cast of young opera stars and members of
Curtis Symphony Orchestra
in this spellbinding production. Prepare to be transported to a twilight world where feuding fairies meddle with mortals, hearts are led astray, and the surreal world of dreams blurs the edges of reality.
In the depths of a dark forest outside Athens, the fairy king Oberon and his queen, Tytania, clash in a battle of wits and wills as a group of impulsive lovers and an unsuspecting band of amateur actors wander into their moonlit realm. Seizing the opportunity to manipulate fate, Oberon entrusts the impish sprite Puck to squeeze the juice of a mystic flower into the eyes of his queen and the quarreling lovers, sparking a night of romantic chaos and surprising transformations.
BENJAMIN BRITTEN, music
PETER PEARS, libretto
Based on the play by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Please note: Programs and artists are subject to change.
This performance runs approximately two hours and 50 minutes with an intermission after Act 2.
Read the program book
Program
BRITTEN
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Artists
Vinay Parameswaran
Conductor
Internationally recognised for his energetic presence, imaginative programming, and compelling musicianship, Vinay Parameswaran (Conducting ’15) is one of the most exciting and versatile young conductors on the podium today.
Prior to his time with the Cleveland Orchestra, Parameswaran was the Associate Conductor of the Nashville Symphony for three seasons and led over 150 performances, which included his subscription debut with the Orchestra in 2016/17, conducting works by Gabriella Smith, Grieg, and Prokofiev. Other highlights have included debuts with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Detroit Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, and Jacksonville Symphony.
Equally at home in symphonic and operatic repertoire, and in the recording studio, Parameswaran has led performances of Mozart’s
The Magic Flute
and Donizetti’s
The Elixir of Love
with Curtis Opera Theater. In Cleveland, he has assisted Franz Welser-Möst on productions of Verdi’s
Otello
, Janáček’s
The Cunning Little Vixen
, Wagner’s
Tristan und Isolde
and Strauss’
Ariadne auf Naxos
. With the Curtis Ensemble 20/21 and violinists Jaime Laredo and Jennifer Koh, Parameswaran recorded the album
Two x Four
, featuring works by Bach, David Ludwig, Philip Glass, and Anna Clyne. In 2020/21, Parameswaran recorded a selection of concerts with the Cleveland Orchestra for the Orchestra’s digital streaming platform.
Parameswaran was a Conducting Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, and has participated in conducting masterclasses with David Zinman at the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, as well as with Marin Alsop and Gustav Meier at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Parameswaran was a recipient of a Career Assistance Award by the Solti Foundation U.S. in May 2021.
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Parameswaran graduated with honours from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in music and political science. At Brown, he began his conducting studies with Paul Phillips. He received an Artist Diploma in conducting from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with renowned pedagogue Otto-Werner Mueller as the Albert M. Greenfield Fellow.
Learn more about Vinay
.
Sarah Ina Meyers
Stage Director
Sarah Ina Meyers is a stage director and a regular member of the directing staff at the Metropolitan Opera for over a decade in addition to directing at regional companies including San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, and New Orleans Opera among others.
Learn more
Curtis Opera Theatre
Through visionary productions, bold concepts, and compelling narratives, the artists of Curtis Opera Theatre prepare to become stars of the world stage. The combination of key elements of artistry—music, acting, singing, and design—allows these student-artists to create a lasting connection with audiences.
Curtis Symphony Orchestra
Comprised of outstanding talent and unmatched enthusiasm for musical collaboration, Curtis Symphony Orchestra stands as a cornerstone of the Curtis Institute of Music experience and a vital component of Philadelphia’s vibrant cultural scene. For 100 years, our exceptional students have sharpened their skills and broadened their musical horizons, as they prepare for professional careers with the world’s foremost orchestras and chamber ensembles.
Oberon
Sam Higgins
Tytania
Jeysla Rosario Santos
Puck
Maya Mor Mitrani
Theseus
Edward Smith
Hippolyta
Maisy Parker | Kate Li (cover)
Lysander
Landry Allen | Brett Michael Hunter (cover)
Demetrius
Emilio Vásquez | Ross Macatangay (cover)
Hermia
Carlyle Quinn | Judy Zhuo (cover)
Helena
Jennifer Robinson | Shikta Mukherjee (cover)
Bottom
Yulin Yan
Quince
Sebastian Wittmoser Herrera
Flute
Hongrui Ren
Snug
Ryan Jester
Snout
Henry Drangel
Starveling
Ross Macatangay
Fairies & Chorus
Philadelphia Youth Choir Ensembles
Natalie Green, choreographer
Cameron Anderson, scenic designer
Whitney Locher, costume designer
Tláloc López-Watermann, lighting designer
Brittany Rappise, hair and makeup designer
Curtis Opera Theatre is generously supported by the Ernestine Bacon Cairns Trust and the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation.
Date
Apr 30, 2026
Time
7:00 p.m.
Location
Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center
Tickets
More Performances
Sat, May 2, 2 p.m.
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Play to your greatness.
Request Info
Visit
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Skip to content
A Spellbinding Opera of Love and Mischief.
Magic and mischief intertwine in
Benjamin Britten
’s enchanting adaptation of
William Shakespeare
’s romantic comedy
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
. Critically acclaimed director
Sarah Ina Meyers
and dynamic international conductor
Vinay Parameswaran
lead a dazzling cast of young opera stars and members of
Curtis Symphony Orchestra
in this spellbinding production. Prepare to be transported to a twilight world where feuding fairies meddle with mortals, hearts are led astray, and the surreal world of dreams blurs the edges of reality.
In the depths of a dark forest outside Athens, the fairy king Oberon and his queen, Tytania, clash in a battle of wits and wills as a group of impulsive lovers and an unsuspecting band of amateur actors wander into their moonlit realm. Seizing the opportunity to manipulate fate, Oberon entrusts the impish sprite Puck to squeeze the juice of a mystic flower into the eyes of his queen and the quarreling lovers, sparking a night of romantic chaos and surprising transformations.
BENJAMIN BRITTEN, music
PETER PEARS, libretto
Based on the play by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Please note: Programs and artists are subject to change.
This performance runs approximately two hours and 50 minutes with an intermission after Act 2.
Read the program book
Program
BRITTEN
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Artists
Vinay Parameswaran
Conductor
Internationally recognised for his energetic presence, imaginative programming, and compelling musicianship, Vinay Parameswaran (Conducting ’15) is one of the most exciting and versatile young conductors on the podium today.
Prior to his time with the Cleveland Orchestra, Parameswaran was the Associate Conductor of the Nashville Symphony for three seasons and led over 150 performances, which included his subscription debut with the Orchestra in 2016/17, conducting works by Gabriella Smith, Grieg, and Prokofiev. Other highlights have included debuts with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Detroit Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, and Jacksonville Symphony.
Equally at home in symphonic and operatic repertoire, and in the recording studio, Parameswaran has led performances of Mozart’s
The Magic Flute
and Donizetti’s
The Elixir of Love
with Curtis Opera Theater. In Cleveland, he has assisted Franz Welser-Möst on productions of Verdi’s
Otello
, Janáček’s
The Cunning Little Vixen
, Wagner’s
Tristan und Isolde
and Strauss’
Ariadne auf Naxos
. With the Curtis Ensemble 20/21 and violinists Jaime Laredo and Jennifer Koh, Parameswaran recorded the album
Two x Four
, featuring works by Bach, David Ludwig, Philip Glass, and Anna Clyne. In 2020/21, Parameswaran recorded a selection of concerts with the Cleveland Orchestra for the Orchestra’s digital streaming platform.
Parameswaran was a Conducting Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, and has participated in conducting masterclasses with David Zinman at the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, as well as with Marin Alsop and Gustav Meier at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Parameswaran was a recipient of a Career Assistance Award by the Solti Foundation U.S. in May 2021.
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Parameswaran graduated with honours from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts in music and political science. At Brown, he began his conducting studies with Paul Phillips. He received an Artist Diploma in conducting from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with renowned pedagogue Otto-Werner Mueller as the Albert M. Greenfield Fellow.
Learn more about Vinay
.
Sarah Ina Meyers
Stage Director
Sarah Ina Meyers is a stage director and a regular member of the directing staff at the Metropolitan Opera for over a decade in addition to directing at regional companies including San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, and New Orleans Opera among others.
Learn more
Curtis Opera Theatre
Through visionary productions, bold concepts, and compelling narratives, the artists of Curtis Opera Theatre prepare to become stars of the world stage. The combination of key elements of artistry—music, acting, singing, and design—allows these student-artists to create a lasting connection with audiences.
Curtis Symphony Orchestra
Comprised of outstanding talent and unmatched enthusiasm for musical collaboration, Curtis Symphony Orchestra stands as a cornerstone of the Curtis Institute of Music experience and a vital component of Philadelphia’s vibrant cultural scene. For 100 years, our exceptional students have sharpened their skills and broadened their musical horizons, as they prepare for professional careers with the world’s foremost orchestras and chamber ensembles.
Oberon
Sam Higgins
Tytania
Jeysla Rosario Santos
Puck
Maya Mor Mitrani
Theseus
Edward Smith
Hippolyta
Maisy Parker | Kate Li (cover)
Lysander
Landry Allen | Brett Michael Hunter (cover)
Demetrius
Emilio Vásquez | Ross Macatangay (cover)
Hermia
Carlyle Quinn | Judy Zhuo (cover)
Helena
Jennifer Robinson | Shikta Mukherjee (cover)
Bottom
Yulin Yan
Quince
Sebastian Wittmoser Herrera
Flute
Hongrui Ren
Snug
Ryan Jester
Snout
Henry Drangel
Starveling
Ross Macatangay
Fairies & Chorus
Philadelphia Youth Choir Ensembles
Natalie Green, choreographer
Cameron Anderson, scenic designer
Whitney Locher, costume designer
Tláloc López-Watermann, lighting designer
Brittany Rappise, hair and makeup designer
Curtis Opera Theatre is generously supported by the Ernestine Bacon Cairns Trust and the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation.
Date
Apr 30, 2026
Time
7:00 p.m.
Location
Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center
Tickets
More Performances
Sat, May 2, 2 p.m.
Upcoming Events
See All Events
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
Learn More
See All Events
Play to your greatness.
Request Info
Visit
Apply
Subscribe to our newsletter for Curtis news, events, announcements, and more.
Sign Up