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Sir John in Love
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.
Track List
Act I
1. What hoa, what hoa
2. I pray you be gone!
3. This is my father's choice
4. I see I cannot get thy father's love
5. Vere is dat knave, Rugby?
6. Psst! Master Fenton
7. How now, mine host of the Garter
8. Wilt thou revenge?
2. I pray you be gone!
3. This is my father's choice
4. I see I cannot get thy father's love
5. Vere is dat knave, Rugby?
6. Psst! Master Fenton
7. How now, mine host of the Garter
8. Wilt thou revenge?
Act II
9. Thine own true knight
10. A noble knight there was indeed
11. Bardolph, Bardolph, I say!
12. Go thy ways
13. Sir, my name is Brook
14. Ha, is this a vision?
10. A noble knight there was indeed
11. Bardolph, Bardolph, I say!
12. Go thy ways
13. Sir, my name is Brook
14. Ha, is this a vision?
Act III
15. Yet hear me speak
16. But listen, good my host
17. When as we sat in Babylon
18. Peace, I say!
19. What, John! What, Robert!
20. Alas my love, you do me wrong
16. But listen, good my host
17. When as we sat in Babylon
18. Peace, I say!
19. What, John! What, Robert!
20. Alas my love, you do me wrong
Act IV
21. Pardon me, wife
22. There is an old tale goes
23. Entr'acte
24. The Windsor bell hath struck twelve
25. But stay! I smell a man of middle earth
26. How now, master Fenton
27. Whether men do laugh or weep
22. There is an old tale goes
23. Entr'acte
24. The Windsor bell hath struck twelve
25. But stay! I smell a man of middle earth
26. How now, master Fenton
27. Whether men do laugh or weep
BONUS: Josephine Veasey Sings De Falla
28. El paño moruno
29. Seguidilla murciana
30. Asturiana
31. Jota
32. Nana
33. Canción
34. Polo
29. Seguidilla murciana
30. Asturiana
31. Jota
32. Nana
33. Canción
34. Polo
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4.0
Based on 1 review
✓ Verified Buyer
United Kingdom
Lovely orchestral colours
A friend I played this to praised the lovely orchestral colours of the music and that is true. The performers take their parts well, especially Ford, the Merry Wives and of course Brannigan's Falstaff. Tippett and Hillman are sweet as the young lovers. The performance also captures Roger Norrington in his previous career as a tenor. According to 'Opera' magazine's review, the performance was broadcast on 12th October 1972 (Vaughan William's 100 birthday) but was actually recorded at the Camden Theatre in 1970. No more details than that are given. It is a work that should be better known, but has lost out in repertoire to its' better known Italian cousin, Verdi's Falstaff. In many ways it is more authentic, having a text drawn, in part, from Shakespeare's play and being so English. The use of the folk tune 'Greensleeves' is nicely done. The only little gripe I have is the interruption of the BBC's commentator. He sounds like Hercules Grytpype-Thynne (the villain from the 'Goon Show') and even interrupts the music at times by speaking over it. You will wish he hadn't. That aside, it is an enjoyable work and what better time to enjoy it than on the upcoming 150th anniversary of Vaughan Williams birth?
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