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246:. 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
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birth. Sophia and Honour arrive, but they and their pursuers remain unaware of each other's 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.
119:, noting the bicentennial 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,
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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
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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
229:
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
481:
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
254:
The opera is best known for a suite of three of its dance numbers for orchestra and the act 3 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
482:
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.
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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 at the
485:
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.
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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
225:'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
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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.
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have found the libretto to be an excessively diluted version of the original novel and have produced rewritten versions with revised lyrics and dialogue.
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wrote, "Next morning I heard over and over again in my head most of the melodies ... I savoured the orchestration ... I returned to
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territory. You may ... tire of so many jigs and other intrusive country dances, but that's Edward German for you, exactly.
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run in 1907. It then disappeared from the professional repertory but eventually became very popular with amateur groups.
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beginning on 11 November 1907, which interpolated the song "King
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for the stage ... feels more at home in the operetta world with the
Elizabethan setting of his patriotic
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Additional musical numbers cut from the original production but included on the Naxos 2009 recording
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21a. Recitative and Waltz Song: "Which is my own true self?" ... "For Tonight" (Sophia)
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21. Barcarolle: "Beguile, beguile, with music sweet" (Trio of female voices, chorus)
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night after night; I sold several of my precious books to obtain admission".
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6. "The Barley Mow" (Honour and Gregory, with Betty, Peggy, Dobbin, Grizzle)
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7. Madrigal: "Here's a paradox for lovers" (Sophia, Honour, Tom, Allworthy)
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that pleased a refined Edwardian clientele still hold up, especially after
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14. Laughing Trio: "You have a pretty wit" (Honour, Gregory, Partridge)
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on 17 April 1907 for an initial run of 110 performances. It starred
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on 17 April 1907 for an initial run of 110 performances. It starred
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as Tom Jones. The piece also had a provincial tour and a popular
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9. "Hurry, Bustle! Hurry, bustle!" (Chorus, Hostess, Officer)
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Detailed liner notes and information about the 2009 recording
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23. Finale act 3: "Hark! The Merry Marriage Bells" (Ensemble)
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728:, February 2010, vol. 74, no. 8, accessed December 1, 2010
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16. "Love maketh the heart a garden fair" (Sophia, chorus)
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12a. "My Lady's coach has been attacked" (Chorus, Hostess)
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Western now gladly consents to Tom and Sophia's marriage.
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18a. Gavotte: "Glass of Fashion, Mould of Form" (Chorus)
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22. "Says a well-worn Saw" (Honour, Partridge, Gregory)
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Trio: Come away with me my deary (Sophia, Honour, Tom)
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5. "Wisdom says 'Festina Lente'" (Sophia, Honour, Tom)
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Bessie Wiseacre, Lettie Wheatcroft, and Rosie Lucas (
134:, England, on 3 April 1907, opening in London at the
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2. "On a Januairy Morning" (Squire Western, Chorus)
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Chorus of Ladies, Gallants, Huntsmen, Soldiers, etc.
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130:The opera premiered at the Prince's Theatre in
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563:12. "Gurt Uncle Jan Tappit" (Gregory, chorus)
199:. A few modern performing groups such as the
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91:, England, the opera opened in London at the
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600:19. "The Green Ribbon" (Honour, male chorus)
575:15. "A soldier's scarlet coat" (Tom, chorus)
375:Colonels Hampstead and Wilcox (non-singing)
557:10. "A person of parts" (Partridge, chorus)
154:played Partridge. The producer's daughter,
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477:Act 1 – The Lawn at Squire Western's
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423:(soprano or mezzo-soprano) – Dora Rignold
787:at The Guide to Light Opera and Operetta
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1176:Adaptations of works by Henry Fielding
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1079:The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling
1000:The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
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65:The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
1114:The History of Sir Charles Grandison
236:. One wants a saucier treatment for
165:Audiences and critics both received
529:3. "West Country Lad" (Tom, chorus)
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343:Squire Cloddy, Pimlott, and Tony,
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1033:The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
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340:, Bernard Gorcey and Henry Turpin
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771:at The Edward German Discography
560:11. "Dream o' Day Jill" (Sophia)
150:played Honour, and the comedian
667:"Mr. Pitcher's Art" – Obituary
629:Song: By night and day (Sophia)
569:13. "As all the Maids" (Honour)
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532:4. "To-day my spinet" (Sophia)
499:Act 3 – Ranelagh Gardens
490:Act 2 – The Inn at Upton
366:and a "Post Boy" (non-singing)
327:a "fine Old English Gentleman"
1:
819:Photos from a 1923 production
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603:20. "If love's content" (Tom)
439:(soprano) – Florence Parfrey
416:(non-singing) – Marie Daltra
332:Gregory, Grizzle and Dobbin,
240:, perhaps along the lines of
169:enthusiastically. The critic
748:. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
329:(baritone) – Ambrose Manning
7:
799:Information about the opera
626:Song: A Foundling Boy (Tom)
591:18. Introduction to act 3,
581:17. Finale act 2 (Ensemble)
471:
464:(soprano and mezzo-soprano)
437:Hostess of the Inn at Upton
123:can be seen in the opera's
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830:Internet Broadway Database
696:Internet Broadway Database
544:8. Finale act 1 (Ensemble)
312:(baritone) – Arthur Soames
111:Background and productions
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378:Tom Edwards (non-singing)
345:friends of Squire Western
935:A Princess of Kensington
1141:English-language operas
1136:Operas by Edward German
825:Tom Jones
414:Squire Western's Sister
263:Roles and original cast
1171:Operas based on novels
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271:Ruth Vincent as Sophia
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248:Ralph Vaughan Williams
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1166:Operas set in England
737:Eddins, Stephen.
455:Serving Maid at Upton
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78:Alexander M. Thompson
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1161:Operas set in London
1146:English comic operas
1087:What's New Pussycat?
315:Benjamin Partridge,
319:(comic baritone) –
257:David Russell Hulme
777:The Play Pictorial
444:Cicely Courtneidge
386:Western's daughter
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243:The Beggar's Opera
156:Cicely Courtneidge
117:Robert Courtneidge
74:Robert Courtneidge
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805:Naxos liner notes
712:Traubner, Richard
460:Betty and Peggy,
448:Friends of Sophia
430:(non-speaking) –
421:a Lady of Quality
82:Charles H. Taylor
50:in three acts by
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1082:(1997 TV series)
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305:) – John Morley
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146:as Tom Jones.
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673:3 March 1925
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513:Introduction
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432:Dorothy Ward
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334:his Servants
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227:patter songs
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148:Carrie Moore
140:Ruth Vincent
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125:patter songs
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97:Ruth Vincent
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27:Carrie Moore
15:
1156:1907 operas
814:The Outlook
801:with photos
762:Vocal score
338:Jay Laurier
276:Tom Jones,
217:But does a
48:comic opera
23:Jay Laurier
1130:Categories
725:Opera News
637:References
615:22a. Melos
351:An Officer
321:Dan Rolyat
310:his Nephew
299:Magistrate
210:Opera News
160:C. Wilhelm
152:Dan Rolyat
132:Manchester
89:Manchester
31:Dan Rolyat
1095:Tom Jones
1060:Tom Jones
1052:Tom Jones
1025:Tom Jones
1017:Tom Jones
943:Tom Jones
793:Tom Jones
784:Tom Jones
768:Tom Jones
740:Tom Jones
718:Tom Jones
716:"German:
686:Tom Jones
670:The Times
280:Foundling
238:Tom Jones
219:Tom Jones
207:asked in
179:Tom Jones
175:Tom Jones
167:Tom Jones
68:, with a
43:Tom Jones
35:Tom Jones
921:Sullivan
746:AllMusic
692:IBDB.com
472:Synopsis
428:her Maid
398:Honour,
381:Sophia,
308:Blifil,
285:baritone
105:Broadway
70:libretto
58:'s 1749
1106:Related
828:at the
742:, opera
453:Susan,
426:Etoff,
390:soprano
25:(left)
1151:Operas
1063:(1907)
1055:(1765)
1036:(1976)
1028:(1963)
1020:(1917)
1003:(1749)
954:(1909)
946:(1907)
938:(1903)
930:(1902)
911:(1901)
900:Operas
842:Portal
810:Review
384:Squire
370:Waiter
283:(high
37:(1907)
1071:Other
1044:Opera
1009:Films
856:Opera
586:Act 3
549:Act 2
518:Act 1
355:tenor
60:novel
46:is a
406:) –
392:) –
357:) –
303:bass
287:) –
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