| SIDE ONE |
| THE SCENE - Athens and a wood near it |
| 1 | OVERTURE | | | 11.45 |
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| 2 | ACT ONE : SCENE ONE | Athens. The Palace of Theseus | | 6.16 |
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| Duke Theseus gives judgement that Hermia must bow to her father’s
will and marry Demetrius, else be executed according to Athenian law,
or renounce worldly existence within a religious order.
Hermia and Lysander subsequently inform Helena of their plan to take
flight from Athens. And Helena decides to betray their confidence,
hoping thereby to win Demetius’ love for herself. |
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| 3 | ACT ONE : SCENE TWO | Athens. Quince’s House | | 2.34 |
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| Quince, Bottom, Flute and other artisans are met together to decide
the casting of a play intended for Duke Theseus’ wedding day. |
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| 4 | SCHERZO | | | 4.44 |
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| 5 | ACT TWO : SCENE ONE | A Wood near Athens | | 2.53 |
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| Puck and a fairy of Titania’s train converse, and witness the arrival of
Oberon and Titania ... |
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| 6 | FAIRY MARCH | | | 6.34 |
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| ... and their quarrel. Oberon despatches Puck to gather the love-juice
of a flower of notorious property with which he plans to have his
revenge upon Titania. Being invisible Oberon overhears Demetrius’
rejection of Helena and instructs Puck in the use and effect of the
potion on Demetrius. |
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| 7 | ACT TWO : SCENE TWO | YE SPOTTED SNAKES | | 3.58 |
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| Another part of the Wood |
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| 8 | | | | 5.38 |
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| Oberon creeping upon Titania in her sleep streaks her eyes with the
fateful potion. Puck, coming upon Hermia and Lysander resting from
their flight through the wood, mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and,
sure in his error, streaks Lysander’s eyes with the potion.
Helena, still chasing Demetrius through the wood, comes upon the
sleeping Lysander. He, wakening with Helena in full view, falls in love
with her, woos her, chases her and rejects the still sleeping Hermia.
Hermia, wakening to find herself deserted by Lysander, bemused, and
alone in the forest, becomes fearful for her safety and in great
distraction rushes away. |
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| 9 | INTERMEZZO | | | 3.00 |
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| 10 | ACT THREE : SCENE ONE | The Wood. Titania lying asleep. | | 7.22 |
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| Puck, unseen, finds Quince, Bottom, Flute and the other artisans close to
Titania’s bower and rehearsing their play. And in great mischief he transforms the
luckless Bottom by placing upon him an ass’s head. At which sight the artisans
flee in terror leaving Bottom, unaware of his transformation, singing to keep
himself company.
Titania, wakening, and being under Oberon’s spell, espies the grotesquely altered
Bottom and falls deeply in love with him. |
| SIDE TWO |
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| 11 | ACT THREE : SCENE TWO | Another part of the Wood. | | 15.24 |
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| Another part of the Wood.
Puck tells Oberon of the success of their revenge upon Titania. But
the disastrous confusion of the mortal lovers is revealed.
Demetrius has found Hermia, but the more he pleads his love for her,
the greater is her conviction that he has murdered her beloved
Lysander. And making this accusation she rushes on into the forest,
leaving Demetrius in fatigue to sleep.
Oberon, attempting to make amends, streaks Demetrius’ eyes with
his potion. Puck brings Helena (pursued by Lysander) to Demetrius’
resting place, and, on awakening, Helena who was beloved of none
finds herself beloved of both.
Hermia, coming to the noise of their quarrelling finds herself suddenly
without either of her previous suitors, who now seek out a place to
duel for Helena’s affections.
Puck acts as a mimic, leading Lysander and Demetrius apart until
eventually each tires of the chase and, like Helena and Hermia, all
seek a place to sleep.
Puck seizing his chance squeezes the potion on Lysander’s eyes, that
on waking and viewing his former beloved Hermia, harmony will be
restored to all four mortals. |
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| 12 | NOCTURNE | | | 6.36 |
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| 13 | ACT FOUR : SCENE ONE | The Wood. | | 10.04 |
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| Lysander, Demetrius, Helena, Hermia lying asleep.
Oberon takes pity on Titania’s undignified plight and releases the spell
upon her. And Puck undoes his transformation of Bottom.
The mortal lovers are awakened by Duke Theseus and his hunting
party, and, though greatly amazed at their adventures are resolved in
contentment at the resolution of their conflict.
Only Bottom is left, and takes away with him the profoundest
impression of an extraordinary midsummer night’s ‘dream’. |
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| 14 | WEDDING MARCH | | | 4.21 |
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| 15 | ACT FIVE : SCENE ONE | Athens. The Palace of Theseus | | 12.05 |
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| The artisans play is performed before the Duke, Hippolyta and the lovers. |
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| 16 | BERGOMASK DANCE | After which all retire to bed. | | 3.23 |
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| 17 | FINALE | | | 5.19 |
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| Oberon, Titania and their retinue sing and bless the house.
And Puck delivers an epilogue craving everyone’s indulgence |
| Recorded by Nimbus Records in the City Hall, Glasgow, November 1985. |
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All rights of the producer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved.
Unauthorised copying, public performance and broadcasting of this recording prohibited. |
