“A spellbinding achievement” - a Dream return to Glyndebourne

In his final opera of a very busy season, Tim followed in the footsteps of countertenor greats James Bowman and Michael Chance to play Oberon in Sir Peter Hall’s classic production of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Glyndebourne. This latest revival, conducted by Jakub Hrusa, has been enthusiastically received by audiences and widely praised by critics, earning many 5-star reviews.

“Countertenor Tim Mead is following in the footsteps of James Bowman and Michael Chance as Oberon. It’s a rich, mellifluous sound, more in the rounder, warmer realm of Andreas Scholl than his predecessors. His aria I Know a Bank Where the Wild Thyme Blows, a signature moment in the opera, is a spellbinding achievement, sensuously phrased and beautifully judged.” 
Observer (5 stars)

“Oberon and Titania were beautifully sung by Tim Mead and Kathleen Kim. Mead is a very modern sort of counter-tenor, much more masculine, lustrous and vibrant in tone…” 
The Telegraph (5 stars)

“The omens are usually good for this opera if the music in the fairy kingdom enchants. Tim Mead, with his perfect enunciation, is a pearly, clear-voiced Oberon”
Financial Times (5 stars)

“Tim Mead’s Oberon is sung with cool elegance” 
Independent (5 stars)

“Mead, tall and lanky, sounds seductive and commanding throughout: I Know a Bank Where the Wild Thyme Blows is particularly ravishing.”
The Guardian 

"Tim Mead's silky-voiced Oberon was impeccably elegant..."
Opera

“Tim Mead’s Oberon… deploying a lustrous countertenor”
The Times

“Some starry casts have inhabited this production over the years, and this revival is no exception. Mead sounds better than ever – a chilly Oberon whose “I know a bank” rings metallic-pure, only swelling into the faintest flutter of vibrato for the final note of a phrase, a sensualist’s practised caress.” 
The Arts Desk

“There are, of course, a few stars to mention… counter-tenor Tim Mead’s exquisite Oberon.”
Mail on Sunday (5 stars)

“There’s glorious singing from Tim Mead (Oberon)”
Daily Mail (5 stars)

“Tim Mead's Oberon has a cool glint to the top of his register, but gorgeously honeyed lower notes, well-projected.”
Bachtrack (5 stars)

“The new Oberon, Tim Mead, born in the year of the original production, reminded us that Hall was able on his own terms to suggest an element of malevolence in the fairy world, with his suitably commanding tone and stage presence.” 
Evening Standard

“counter-tenor Tim Mead’s well projected, suitably unearthly Oberon”
The Stage 

“Kathleen Kim (Tytania) and Tim Mead (Oberon) sing with impeccable style” 
What's on Stage

“Tim Mead was incredible as Oberon; his sound was constantly beautiful and rich, and he kept the regal quality to the Fairy King, even in his outbursts of rage. Oberon is a role noted for its low tessitura, and Mead was a total expert at handling his instrument, while making it mean something.”
Schmopera

Photo: Robbie Jack - Corbis