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, the opera opened in London at the Apollo Theatre on 17 April 1907 for an initial run of 110 performances.
Dramatis Personæ
TOM JONES (a Foundling) | Mr. C. Hayden Coffin |
MR. ALLWORTHY (a Somersetshire Magistrate) | Mr. John Morley |
BLIFIL (his Nephew) | Mr. Arthur Soames |
BENJAMIN PARTRIDGE (a Village Barber) | Mr. Dan Rolyat |
SQUIRE WESTERN ("a fine old English Gentleman") | Mr. Ambrose Manning |
GREGORY GRIZZLE DOBBIN |
} } } |
(his Servants) | { { { |
Mr. Jay Laurier Mr. Walter L. Rignold Mr. Reginald Crompton |
SQUIRE CLODDY PIMLOTT TONY |
} } } |
(friends of Squire Western) | { { { |
Mr. Harry Cottell Mr. D. Percival Mr. W. Biddlecombe |
AN OFFICER | Mr. H. Welchman |
TWO HIGHWAYMEN | Messrs. Melville & Derrick |
POST BOY | Mr. Woodin |
WAITER | Mr. Carr Evans |
COLONEL HAMPSTEAD | Mr. Rupert Mar |
TOM EDWARDS | Mr. Manners |
COLONEL WILCOX | Mr. Dalmuir |
HONOUR (Maid to Sophia) | Miss Carrie Moore |
MISS WESTERN (Squire Western's Sister) | Miss Marie Daltra |
LADY BELLASTON (a Lady of Quality) | Mr. Dora Rignold |
ETOFF (her Maid) | Miss Dorothy Ward |
HOSTESS OF THE INN AT UPTON | Miss Florence Parfrey |
BESSIE WISEACRE LETTIE WHEATCROFT ROSIE LUCAS |
} } } |
(Friends of Sophia) | { { { |
Miss Minna Green Miss Annie Heenan Miss Cicely Courtneidge |
SUSAN (Serving Maid at Upton) | Miss Maud Thornton |
BETTY PEGGY |
} } |
(Waiting Maids) | { { |
Miss Mabel Newcombe Miss Fay Temple |
SOPHIA (Squire Western's Daughter) | Miss Ruth Vincent |
ACT I - The Lawn at Squire Western's.
- No. 1 - Introduction and Opening Chorus - "Don't you find the weather charming? Quite a warm October day! ..."
- No. 2 - Song - Squire Western and Chorus - "On a Januairy morning in Zummerzetsheer, two pretty maidens were walking along..."
- No. 3 - Song - Tom and Chorus - "West Country lad, what is't ye lack? A horse to ride..."
- Nos. 4 & 5 - Song - Sophia, and Trio with Honour and Tom - "Today my spinet..." & "Wisdom says Festina Lente..."
- No. 6 - Ensemble - Honour, Gregory, and others - "A little roadside inn fur We, under a green bough..."
- No. 7 - Madrigal - Sophia, Honour, Tom and Alworthy - "Here's a paradox for lovers..."
- No. 8 - Finale Act I - "For aye my love, for aye my love, abidingly those little words shall live in my heart..."
ACT II - The Inn at Upton.
- No. 9 - Opening Chorus - "Hurry, bustle, hurry, bustle, serving-men and wenches..."
- No. 10 - Song - Partridge and Chorus - "Benjamin Partridge, a person of parts, vers'd in healing and medical arts..."
- No. 11 - Song - Sophia - "'I'll wear a petticoat of muslin,' said Dream o' Day Jill..."
- No. 12 - Song - Gregory and Chorus - "Gurt Uncle Jan Tappit oi nivver did zee, but they zay oi remarkably tuk after 'ee..."
- No. 13 - Song - Honour - "As all the maids and I one day were in a meadow a-making' hay..."
- No. 14 - Laughing Trio - Honour, Gregory and Partridge - "You have a pretty wit surelie, hee! hee! ho! ho! ..."
- No. 15 - Song - Tom and Chorus - "A coat! a coat! A soldier's scarlet coat..."
- No. 16 - Song - Sophia and Chorus - "Love maketh the heart a garden fair..."
- No. 17 - Finale Act II - "Where be my daughter? Marry! I'll teach her..."
ACT III - Ranelagh Gardens.
- No. 18 - Morris Dance and Gavotte - "Glass of fashion, mould of form, acme of elegance, height of gentility..."
- No. 19 - Song - Honour and Male Chorus - "All for a green ribbon she walked to the fair..."
- No. 20 - Song - Tom - "If love's content lie in the spoken word..."
- No. 21 - Barcarolle, Recit. and Waltz Song - Sophia - "Beguile, beguile with music sweet..."
- No. 22 - Trio - Honour, Partridge and Gregory - "Says a well-worn saw, and a deep one, and lovers believe it true..."
- No. 22a - Melos
- No. 23 - Finale Act III - "Hark! the merry marriage bells, ding, dong, ding, dong..."
Additional songs from an earlier edition of the vocal score...
- Formerly No. 11 - Song - Sophia - "By night and day he thinks of me, I know; it must be so..."
- Formerly No. 14 - Concerted Number - Honour, Hostess, Gregory, Partridge and Chorus - (piano score only)
- Formerly No. 19 - Song - Tom - "No care knew I when life began fair boyhood's gifts on me to show'r..."
- Formerly No. 21 - Trio - Sophia, Honour and Tom - "Come away with me, my deary, let us leave the noisy town..."
Libretto [PDF, 2.9MB]
- External Links
- Tom Jones at Wikipedia
- Tom Jones at The Guide to Light Opera and Operetta
- Tom Jones at The Guide to Musical Theatre
- Vocal Score at IMSLP
- Recording conducted by David Russell Hulme
Page modified 31 May 2018