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The Fairy Queen, Henry Purcell, 1692

Opera for schoolchildren
Adaptation for primary and secondary schoolchildren. Estimated duration, 70 minutes

Brief account of the opera
The Fairy Queen's score was composed by Henry Purcell (1659-1695) and was based on William Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It is considered one of the composer’s most complex works.

Synopsis
Based on the world of the fairies, it relates the ups and downs that befall the lovers, Hermia and Lysander, when Hermia’s father’s (Egeus) opposes their union. The happy couple decide to flee to Athens and reach the fairy wood, pursued by Helena and Demetrius, who must force them to return. Once in the wood, all kinds of enchantment and embarrassing situations take place between the humans and the magical beings who live there—Titania, Oberon, Puck and Bottom. In the end, everything returns to normal and Hermia can marry her beloved Lysander.

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