March 2021 Catalogue

6 I m a g i n e d W o r l d s E a r l y M a r c h 2 0 2 1 Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream , Warmly Inscribed By Benjamin Britten To Conductor Meredith Davies, Who Conducted The North American Premiere 4. BRITTEN, Benjamin. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Opera in Three Acts. Op. 64. London, 1960. Quarto, original paper wrappers. $3800. Click for more info First edition of the piano-vocal score of this rich operatic interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic play, warmly inscribed by Britten to Meredith Davies, who conducted the North American premiere of the opera in 1961: “For Meredith with every good wish from Benjamin Britten. Aldeburgh 1960.” With the ownership signature of Meredith Davies. Realizing that he did not have enough time to commission a libretto for a new opera to be performed at the opening of Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh, Britten turned—with his friend and confidante Peter Pears—to Shakespeare, discarding half the text of Dream and distributing some of the rest among other parts. The opera was completed in under seven months, and first performed at Aldeburgh in 1960 with Pears as Flute and Britten conducting. “A magnificently rich operatic score” ( New Grove 3:294). Meredith Davies, one of the great British conductors of the 20th century, worked closely with Britten over the course of two decades. This volume also bears the owner signature of Davies in pencil on the front cover and occasional pencil notations throughout, indicating that the volume was a part of Davies’ personal library. Interior fine, light wear and soiling to original wraps. A near-fine inscribed copy with a fine association.