Vaughan Williams Opera Sir John in Love
Plot Synopsis and Character Description of English Comedy
Dec 25, 2008
Ralph Vaughan Williams (October 12, 1872 – August 26, 1958) composed and wrote the libretto of Sir John in Love, a four-act English comedy based on William Shakespeare play "The Merry Wives of Windsor." It was premiered in London, Parry Opera Theatre, Royal College of Music, Marcy 21, 1929. The setting is in Windsor in the 15th century.
Sir John in Love, by Ralph Vaughan Williams is another opera production of Shakespeare's famous comedy "The Merry Wives of Windsor." A popular Italian version is Verdi's 1893 Falstaff, his last opera.
Notable aria: "O that joy so soon should waste" (Falstaff)
Cast of Characters
- Sir John Falstaff, a dissolute knight (baritone)
- Page, a Gentleman living at Windsor (baritone)
- Anne Page, daughter of Page, in love with Fenton (soprano)
- Mrs. Page, Wife of Page (soprano)
- Fenton, a Young Gentleman (tenor)
- Mrs. Quickly, the Inn-Keeper (contralto)
- Ford, a Gentleman living at Windsor (bass)
- Mrs. Alice Ford, Ford's wife (mezzo)
- Shallow, Country Justice (tenor or baritone)
- Sir Hugh Evans, a Welsh parson (high baritone)
- Slender, Cousin to Shallow (tenor)
- Bardolph (tenor), Pistol (bass), Nym (baritone) are followers of Falstaff
- Dr. Caius, French physician (high baritone)
- Rugby, Servant to Dr. Caius (bass)
- Peter Simple, Servant to Slender (tenor or baritone)
- The Host of the Garter Inn (baritone)
Plot Summary / Synopses
Act I
A Street in Windsor
Shallow, Slender and Evans complain that they have been mistreated by Falstaff and his men, charges which is being denied by Falstaff's men. Page wants her daughter, Anne, to marry Slender, but Mrs. Page wants Anne to marry Dr. Caius. But Anne loves Fenton. Falstaff decides to repair his dwindling fortunes by making love to both Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford. Falstaff insults his men, who in turn take revenge by telling Ford about Falstaff's plans.
Act II
Scene 1. A Room in the House of Page
Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford receive identical love letters from Falstaff. They agree to take revenge and ask Mrs. Quickly's support in their schemes.
Scene 2. The Parlor of the Garter Inn
Mrs. Quickly arranges a rendezvous between Mrs. Ford and Falstaff. Ford introduces himself to Falstaff as Master Brook, a rich man in love with Mrs. Ford. He pays Falstaff to seduce Mrs. Ford on the theory that once she has fallen once, a second suitor will have an easier time.
Meantime, Dr. Caius challenges Evans to a duel.
Act III
Scene 1. A Field near Windsor
Anne and her friends go out on a picnic. Fenton joins them. Shallow and the others break up the duel between Evans and Caius.
Scene 2. A Room in Ford's house
Falstaff tries to woo Mrs. Ford, but is interrupted by Ford's return. While Ford searches the house, he is smuggled by the women out in a laundry basket.
Act IV
Scene 1. A Room in Ford's House
Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford show their husbands Falstaff's love letters. They plan a revenge on Sir John Falstaff. Meantime, while Mrs. Page also arranges for Dr. Caius to secretly marry Anne, Page arranges for Slender to marry her.
Scene 2. Windsor Forest
Falstaff meets Mrs. Ford in the forest, but runs she away. The town people enter, dressed as fairies and pinch Falstaff. They reveal the plot and have a laugh at Falstaff's expense. Anne and Fenton take off and were married. Page, her father, forgives them.
Sources:
Martin, Nicholas Ivor. The Da Capo Opera Manual. New York: Da Capo Press, 1997
Riding, Alan and L.D. Downer. Opera. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2006
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