| Hamlet | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Brett Dean | |
| Librettist | Matthew Jocelyn |
| Language | English |
| Based on | Hamlet by Shakespeare |
| Premiere | June 11, 2017 |
Hamlet is an opera in two acts by Australian composer Brett Dean, with an English libretto by Matthew Jocelyn, which is based on Shakespeare's play of the same name. The libretto uses "as little as 20 per cent" of the play's text and also takes inspiration from the "first quarto" as it "offers a different view on certain moments".[1]
The opera premiered at Glyndebourne Festival on 11 June 2017, directed by Neil Armfield and conducted by Vladimir Jurowski.[2] A month later on 6 July, the production was live streamed on Glyndebourne's website free of charge.[3] The production was then presented in 2018 at the Adelaide Festival with Clayton, Gilfry, and Begley from the Glyndebourne cast and Cheryl Barker as Gertrude.[4] The Metropolitan Opera in New York City mounted the Glyndebourne production in May 2022 with several of the original cast members, conducted by Australian conductor Nicholas Carter in his Met debut.[5] The production was also seen at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich in the summer of 2023 as part of the Munich Opera Festival. Several singers from the premiere were heard in Munich. The performances were a great success with the audience.[6]