Ralph Vaughan Williams' opera Sir John in Love, based on Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, is one of the hidden gems of 20th-century English opera. Composed between 1924 and 1928, it offers a refreshingly lyrical and often pastoral take on the Falstaff legend, distinct from Verdi's better-known version. Vaughan Williams not only used Shakespeare's original text but also incorporated poetry by other Elizabethan writers and infused the score with traditional English folk songs, including the famous "Greensleeves."

This performance captures the opera's charm, wit, and elegance. Owen Brannigan is marvelous in the title role, playing Sir John with warmth, roguish humor, and vocal authority. His performance balances comic bluster with a surprising sense of pathos, reminding us that Falstaff, even in ridicule, retains his humanity.