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Tom Jones (opera)
Encyclopedia
Tom Jones is a comic opera
in three acts by Edward German
founded upon Henry Fielding
's 1749 novel
, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
, with a libretto
by Robert Courtneidge
and Alexander M. Thompson
and lyrics by Charles H. Taylor
.
After a run in Manchester
, England, the opera opened in London at the Apollo Theatre
on 17 April 1907 for an initial run of 110 performances. It starred Ruth Vincent
as Sophia and Hayden Coffin as Tom Jones. The piece also had a provincial tour and a popular Broadway run in 1907. It then disappeared from the professional repertory but eventually became very popular with amateur groups.
, noting the bicentennail of Fielding's birth in 1907, decided to adapt Fielding's novel as a comic opera. He commissioned Thompson and Taylor to collaborate on the libretto and German to write the music. The eroticism of the novel was reduced for Edwardian audiences. The influences of German's predecessor, Arthur Sullivan
can be seen in the opera's patter song
s and the pseudo-madrigal, "Here’s a paradox for lovers". However, the extended finales and much of the other music, as well as the orchestration shows German's own more romantic style.
The opera premiered at the Prince's Theatre in Manchester
, England, on 3 April 1907, opening in London at the Apollo Theatre
on 17 April 1907 for an initial run of 110 performances. It starred Ruth Vincent
as Sophia and Hayden Coffin as Tom Jones. Carrie Moore played Honour, and comedian Dan Rolyat played Partridge. The producer's daughter, Cicely Courtneidge
, made her professional début in the small rôle of Rosie. Costume designs were by the imaginative designer C. Wilhelm.
Audiences and critics both received Tom Jones enthusiastically. The critic Neville Cardus
wrote, "Next morning I heard over and over again in my head most of the melodies.... I savoured the orchestration.... I returned to Tom Jones night after night; I sold several of my precious books to obtain admission". Tom Jones was still playing strongly at the Apollo when it closed after 110 performances. It would have run longer, but Courtneidge had already booked a provincial tour with the same cast. The piece also had a popular Broadway run beginning on 11 November 1907, which interpolated the song "King Neptune" from German's 1902 comic opera, Merrie England
, into the third act. It then disappeared from the professional repertory.
Due to the perceived raciness of the original novel even into the 20th century, the opera was initially avoided by amateur performing groups, but eventually reached a level of popularity comparable to Merrie England. A few modern performing groups such as the Shaw Festival
have found the libretto to be an excessively diluted version of the original novel and have produced rewritten versions with revised lyrics and dialogue. Richard Traubner
asked in Opera News
:
The opera is best known for a suite of three of its dance numbers for orchestra and the Act III waltz song, which can be found on numerous recordings. A 2009 recording by Naxos was the first complete professional recording of the opera, conducted by David Russell Hulme
.
Act I – The Lawn at Squire Western's
Tom Jones, a foundling adopted in infancy by Mr Allworthy, is popular for his geniality and sportsmanship. Tom is in love with Sophia, Squire Western's daughter, but her father wishes her to marry Blifil, Allworthy's nephew and heir. Tom's feelings for Sophia are reciprocated.Western's trouble-making sister accuses Tom of impropriety with Sophie's maid, Honour, but this false accusation is rebutted and Honour pairs up with Gregory, a local youth. Blifil also attempts to slur Tom's honourable reputation, but Honour outwits him.
Blifil proposes to Sophia, but is rejected. He and Tom come to blows, and Tom knocks him down. Western angrily rejects Tom's plea for Sophia's hand. Allworthy disowns Tom, and Sophia is in disgrace with Squire Western.
Act II – The Inn at Upton
Sophia, accompanied by Honour, has run away, intending to seek refuge with Lady Bellaston, her cousin, in London. Blifil and Squire Western arrive at the inn in pursuit. There they meet Benjamin Partridge, the village barber and quack-doctor, who, it emerges, knows something about the foundling Tom's birth. Sophia and Honour arrive, but they and their pursuers remain unaware of each others' presence. Next to arrive is Tom, with Lady Bellaston, whom he has rescued from highwaymen. She is much taken with her gallant rescuer, and Sophia, believing Tom to be false, leaves at once. He sets off in pursuit of her.
Act III – Ranelagh Gardens
Sophia has gone to live with her cousin, Lady Bellaston, and is well established in London society. Tom finds Sophia, who eventually realises that she has been mistaken in doubting his fidelity to her. Partridge has told Western the secret of Tom's birth: he is Allworthy's elder nephew and heir, and Western now gladly consents to Tom and Sophia's marriage.
Act I
Act II
Act III
Additional musical numbers cut from the original production but included on the Naxos 2009 recording
Comic opera
Comic opera denotes a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending.Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a new operatic genre, opera buffa, emerged as an alternative to opera seria...
in three acts by Edward German
Edward German
Sir Edward German was an English musician and composer of Welsh descent, best remembered for his extensive output of incidental music for the stage and as a successor to Arthur Sullivan in the field of English comic opera.As a youth, German played the violin and led the town orchestra, also...
founded upon Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding
Henry Fielding was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones....
's 1749 novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, often known simply as Tom Jones, is a comic novel by the English playwright and novelist Henry Fielding. First published on 28 February 1749, Tom Jones is among the earliest English prose works describable as a novel...
, with a libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Robert Courtneidge
Robert Courtneidge
Robert Courtneidge was a British theatrical manager-producer and playwright. He is best remembered as the co-author of the light opera Tom Jones and the producer of The Arcadians...
and Alexander M. Thompson
Alexander M. Thompson
Alexander Mattock Thompson , sometimes credited as A. M. Thompson, was a German-born English journalist and dramatist. From the 1880s, Thompson wrote for socialist newspapers and journals, co-founding The Clarion in 1891...
and lyrics by Charles H. Taylor
Charles H. Taylor (lyricist)
Charles Henry Taylor was a British lyricist, best known for his lyrics for early 20th century West End musical comedies and a comic opera, Tom Jones.-Life and career:...
.
After a run in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England, the opera opened in London at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
on 17 April 1907 for an initial run of 110 performances. It starred Ruth Vincent
Ruth Vincent
Ruth Vincent was an English opera singer and actress, best remembered for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the 1890s and her roles in the West End during the first decade of the 20th century, particularly her role as Sophia in Tom...
as Sophia and Hayden Coffin as Tom Jones. The piece also had a provincial tour and a popular Broadway run in 1907. It then disappeared from the professional repertory but eventually became very popular with amateur groups.
Background and productions
The impresario Robert CourtneidgeRobert Courtneidge
Robert Courtneidge was a British theatrical manager-producer and playwright. He is best remembered as the co-author of the light opera Tom Jones and the producer of The Arcadians...
, noting the bicentennail of Fielding's birth in 1907, decided to adapt Fielding's novel as a comic opera. He commissioned Thompson and Taylor to collaborate on the libretto and German to write the music. The eroticism of the novel was reduced for Edwardian audiences. The influences of German's predecessor, Arthur Sullivan
Arthur Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan MVO was an English composer of Irish and Italian ancestry. He is best known for his series of 14 operatic collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including such enduring works as H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado...
can be seen in the opera's patter song
Patter song
The patter song is characterized by a moderately fast to very fast tempo with a rapid succession of rhythmic patterns in which each syllable of text corresponds to one note...
s and the pseudo-madrigal, "Here’s a paradox for lovers". However, the extended finales and much of the other music, as well as the orchestration shows German's own more romantic style.
The opera premiered at the Prince's Theatre in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England, on 3 April 1907, opening in London at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
on 17 April 1907 for an initial run of 110 performances. It starred Ruth Vincent
Ruth Vincent
Ruth Vincent was an English opera singer and actress, best remembered for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the 1890s and her roles in the West End during the first decade of the 20th century, particularly her role as Sophia in Tom...
as Sophia and Hayden Coffin as Tom Jones. Carrie Moore played Honour, and comedian Dan Rolyat played Partridge. The producer's daughter, Cicely Courtneidge
Cicely Courtneidge
Dame Esmerelda Cicely Courtneidge DBE was an English actress and comedienne. The daughter of the producer Robert Courtneidge, she was appearing in his productions in the West End, by the age of 16, and was quickly promoted from minor to major roles in his Edwardian musical comedies.After the...
, made her professional début in the small rôle of Rosie. Costume designs were by the imaginative designer C. Wilhelm.
Audiences and critics both received Tom Jones enthusiastically. The critic Neville Cardus
Neville Cardus
Sir John Frederick Neville Cardus CBE was an English writer and critic, best known for his writing on music and cricket. For many years, he wrote for The Manchester Guardian. He was untrained in music, and his style of criticism was subjective, romantic and personal, in contrast with his critical...
wrote, "Next morning I heard over and over again in my head most of the melodies.... I savoured the orchestration.... I returned to Tom Jones night after night; I sold several of my precious books to obtain admission". Tom Jones was still playing strongly at the Apollo when it closed after 110 performances. It would have run longer, but Courtneidge had already booked a provincial tour with the same cast. The piece also had a popular Broadway run beginning on 11 November 1907, which interpolated the song "King Neptune" from German's 1902 comic opera, Merrie England
Merrie England (opera)
Merrie England is an English comic opera in two acts by Edward German to a libretto by Basil Hood. The patriotic story concerns love and rivalries at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who is portrayed as jealous of the affection of Sir Walter Raleigh for Bessie Throckmorton. Its sunny depiction of...
, into the third act. It then disappeared from the professional repertory.
Due to the perceived raciness of the original novel even into the 20th century, the opera was initially avoided by amateur performing groups, but eventually reached a level of popularity comparable to Merrie England. A few modern performing groups such as the Shaw Festival
Shaw Festival
The Shaw Festival is a major Canadian theatre festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, the second largest repertory theatre company in North America...
have found the libretto to be an excessively diluted version of the original novel and have produced rewritten versions with revised lyrics and dialogue. Richard Traubner
Richard Traubner
Richard Traubner is an American journalist, author, operetta scholar and historian, and lecturer on theatre and film. His book on the history of operetta was first published in 1983 and won the 17th annual ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award. Traubner is a frequent contributor to Opera News, The New York...
asked in Opera News
Opera News
Opera News is an American classical music magazine. It has been published since 1936 by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, a non-profit organization located at Lincoln Center which was founded to support the Metropolitan Opera of New York City...
:
But does a Tom Jones that pleased a refined Edwardian clientele still hold up, especially after Tony RichardsonTony RichardsonCecil Antonio "Tony" Richardson was an English theatre and film director and producer.-Early life:Richardson was born in Shipley, Yorkshire in 1928, the son of Elsie Evans and Clarence Albert Richardson, a chemist...
's famous 1963 film version...? I'm not so sure. The libretto is almost devoid of ribaldry, many of the lyrics are a sorry collection of Latin locutions and/or olde-English fa-la-las, and the patter songPatter songThe patter song is characterized by a moderately fast to very fast tempo with a rapid succession of rhythmic patterns in which each syllable of text corresponds to one note...
s are pallid lists. That leaves Edward German's music, which is for the most part very accomplished, beautifully orchestrated and redolent of both the English countryside (Somerset) and London's pleasure gardens (Ranelagh) in the eighteenth century. Somehow, this composer of antique incidental music for the stage ... feels more at home in the operetta world with the Elizabethan setting of his patriotic Merrie EnglandMerrie England (opera)Merrie England is an English comic opera in two acts by Edward German to a libretto by Basil Hood. The patriotic story concerns love and rivalries at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, who is portrayed as jealous of the affection of Sir Walter Raleigh for Bessie Throckmorton. Its sunny depiction of...
. One wants a saucier treatment for Tom Jones, perhaps along the lines of The Beggar's OperaThe Beggar's OperaThe Beggar's Opera is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satirical ballad opera to remain popular today...
. But that would deprive us of hearing German's fine martial songs; his convoluted, challenging chorus writing; some very catchy ditties for the soubrette, Honour; the famous coloratura waltz-song for the heroine, Sophia; and most important, his sweeping finales, which have a breadth that occasionally just touches Ralph Vaughan WilliamsRalph Vaughan WilliamsRalph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
territory. You may ... tire of so many jigs and other intrusive country dances, but that's Edward German for you, exactly.
The opera is best known for a suite of three of its dance numbers for orchestra and the Act III waltz song, which can be found on numerous recordings. A 2009 recording by Naxos was the first complete professional recording of the opera, conducted by David Russell Hulme
David Russell Hulme
David Russell Hulme is a Welsh conductor and musicologist known for his research and publications on the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan, the Victorian era composer who, with Sir W. S...
.
Synopsis
Tom Jones, a foundling adopted in infancy by Mr Allworthy, is popular for his geniality and sportsmanship. Tom is in love with Sophia, Squire Western's daughter, but her father wishes her to marry Blifil, Allworthy's nephew and heir. Tom's feelings for Sophia are reciprocated.Western's trouble-making sister accuses Tom of impropriety with Sophie's maid, Honour, but this false accusation is rebutted and Honour pairs up with Gregory, a local youth. Blifil also attempts to slur Tom's honourable reputation, but Honour outwits him.
Blifil proposes to Sophia, but is rejected. He and Tom come to blows, and Tom knocks him down. Western angrily rejects Tom's plea for Sophia's hand. Allworthy disowns Tom, and Sophia is in disgrace with Squire Western.
Act II – The Inn at Upton
Sophia, accompanied by Honour, has run away, intending to seek refuge with Lady Bellaston, her cousin, in London. Blifil and Squire Western arrive at the inn in pursuit. There they meet Benjamin Partridge, the village barber and quack-doctor, who, it emerges, knows something about the foundling Tom's birth. Sophia and Honour arrive, but they and their pursuers remain unaware of each others' presence. Next to arrive is Tom, with Lady Bellaston, whom he has rescued from highwaymen. She is much taken with her gallant rescuer, and Sophia, believing Tom to be false, leaves at once. He sets off in pursuit of her.
Act III – Ranelagh Gardens
Sophia has gone to live with her cousin, Lady Bellaston, and is well established in London society. Tom finds Sophia, who eventually realises that she has been mistaken in doubting his fidelity to her. Partridge has told Western the secret of Tom's birth: he is Allworthy's elder nephew and heir, and Western now gladly consents to Tom and Sophia's marriage.
Roles
- Tom Jones, a FoundlingChild abandonmentChild abandonment is the practice of relinquishing interests and claims over one's offspring with the intent of never again resuming or reasserting them. Causes include many social and cultural factors as well as mental illness. An abandoned child is called a foundling .-Causes:Poverty is often a...
(high baritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
) - Mr. Allworthy, a SomersetSomersetThe ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
shire Magistrate (bass) - Blifil, his Nephew (baritone)
- Benjamin Partridge, a Village Barber (comic baritone)
- Squire Western, a "fine Old English Gentleman" (baritone)
- Gregory, Grizzle, and Dobbin, his Servants (baritones)
- Squire Cloddy, Pimlott, and Tony, friends of Squire Western (non-singing)
- An Officer (tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
) - Two Highwaymen (non-singing)
- Post Boy (non-singing)
- Waiter (non-speaking)
- Colonel Hampstead (non-singing)
- Tom Edwards (non-singing)
- Colonel Wilcox (non-singing)
- Sophia, SquireSquireThe English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
Western's daughter (sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
) - Honour, Maid to Sophia (mezzo-sopranoMezzo-sopranoA mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
) - Miss Western, Squire Western's Sister (non-singing)
- Lady Bellaston, a Lady of Quality (soprano or mezzo-soprano)
- Etoff, her Maid (non-speaking)
- Hostess of the Inn at Upton (soprano)
- Bessie Wiseacre, Lettie Wheatcroft, and Rosie Lucas, Friends of Sophia (non-singing)
- Susan, Serving Maid at Upton (non-singing)
- Betty and Peggy, Waiting Maids (soprano and mezzo-soprano)
- Chorus of Ladies, Gallants, Huntsmen, Soldiers, etc.
Musical numbers
- Introduction
Act I
- 1. "Don't you find the weather charming?" (Chorus)
- 2. "On a Januairy Morning" (Squire Western, Chorus)
- 3. "West Country Lad" (Tom, Chorus)
- 4. "To-day my spinet" (Sophia)
- 5. "Wisdom says 'Festina Lente'" (Sophia, Honour, Tom)
- 6. "The Barley Mow" (Honour and Gregory, with Betty, Peggy, Dobbin, Grizzle)
- 7. Madrigal: "Here's a paradox for lovers" (Sophia, Honour, Tom, Allworthy)
- 8. Finale Act I (Ensemble)
Act II
- 9. "Hurry, Bustle! Hurry, bustle!" (Chorus, Hostess, Officer)
- 10. "A person of parts" (Partridge, Chorus)
- 11. "Dream o' Day Jill" (Sophia)
- 12. "Gurt Uncle Jan Tappit" (Gregory, Chorus)
- 12a. "My Lady's coach has been attacked" (Chorus, Hostess)
- 13. "As all the Maids" (Honour)
- 14. Laughing Trio: "You have a pretty wit" (Honour, Gregory, Partridge)
- 15. "A soldier's scarlet coat" (Tom, Chorus)
- 16. "Love maketh the heart a garden fair" (Sophia, Chorus)
- 17. Finale Act II (Ensemble)
Act III
- 18. Introduction to Act III, Morris Dance
- 18a. Gavotte: "Glass of Fashion, Mould of Form" (Chorus)
- 19. "The Green Ribbon" (Honour, Male Chorus)
- 20. "If love's content" (Tom)
- 21. Barcarolle: "Beguile, beguile, with music sweet" (Trio of Female Voices, Chorus)
- 21a. Recitative and Waltz Song: "Which is my own true self?" ... "For Tonight" (Sophia)
- 22. "Says a well-worn Saw" (Honour, Partridge, Gregory)
- 22a. Melos
- 23. Finale Act III: "Hark! The Merry Marriage Bells" (Ensemble)
Additional musical numbers cut from the original production but included on the Naxos 2009 recording
- Song: A Foundling Boy (Tom)
- Song: By night and day (Sophia)
- Trio: Come away with me my deary (Sophia, Honour, Tom)
External links
- Tom Jones at The Edward German Discography
- Tom Jones at The Guide to Light Opera and Operetta
- Description of Tom Jones
- Information about the Broadway production
- Photos from a 1923 production