Vaughan Williams' opera 'Sir John in Love' (based on Shakespeare's 'The Merry Wives of Windsor') was first performed by a student cast at the Parry Opera Theatre in the Royal College of Music, London on 21st March 1929. It had to wait until 1946 for its first professional performances at Sadlers Wells.

Meanwhile, Vaughan Williams arranged five numbers from the opera into a choral suite first performed by the London Choral Union on 24th March 1931.

In this recording from 1960 it is performed by the Bach Choir with the Jacques Orchestra conducted by Reginald Jacques. The soloist is Elsie Morison, wife of the conductor Rafael Kubelik.

The five movements are:

1. The Conspiracy - Mrs Page and Mrs Ford agree to make life difficult for Sir John Falstaff, who has been making life difficult for them. (Words by Shakespeare)

2. Drinking Song - Falstaff and his cronies praise "jolly good ale". (Words by John Still)

3. Falstaff and the Fairies - The Page/Ford plot reaches its climax at night in Windsor Forest. (Words by Shakespeare, Ravenscroft and Lyly)

4. Wedding Chorus - Anne Page and Master Fenton (the opera's love interest) have their happy ending. (Words by Ben Jonson)

5. Epilogue - the opera's finale with the message "there is underneath the sun nothing in true earnest done". (Words possibly by Campion and Rossiter)


The image is a painting by William Powell Frith exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1843. It shows shows Anne Page with wine, Mrs Ford, Mrs Page and Sir John leaving the Garter Inn at Windsor.