Thomas and Sally

Thomas and Sally

"Thomas and Sally" (also known as "The Sailor's Return") is a dramatic pastoral opera in two acts by the composer Thomas Arne with an English libretto by Isaac Bickerstaff. The opera was meant to be performed as an "after piece" which is a short musical work to be performed after a spoken play.

Performance history

The opera was initially scheduled to premiere in October 1760 but was postponed due to the death of King George II. The opera eventually premiered on November 28, 1760 at Covent Garden and enjoyed a successful run. "Thomas and Sally" is one of only a few works by Arne that was not destroyed in the disastrous fire at Covent Garden in 1808 and has occasionally been revived during the past century. [http://www.library.unt.edu/music/special-collections/vrbr/browse/thomas-and-sally-1782-thomas-augustine-arne Thomas and Sally (1782) - Thomas Augustine Arne — University of North Texas Libraries ] ] [http://www.answers.com/topic/thomas-and-sally-or-the-sailor-s-return-opera-in-1-act?cat=entertainment Thomas and Sally, or The Sailor's Return, opera ...: Information and Much More from Answers.com ] ]

The opera made it's Broadway debut at the Little Theatre on January 4, 1938 with Geoffrey Dunn as Thomas, Winifred Radford as Sally, and Frederick Woodhouse as the Squire. [ [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=10692 IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information ] ] Thomas and Sally also has the distinction of being one of the first operas recreated for television. The B.B.C. made a television production of the opera in 1937 with Joan Collier as Sally, Vivienne Chatterton as Dorcas, Henry Wendon as Thomas, and Dennis Noble as the Squire. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407253/ Thomas and Sally (1937) (TV) ] ]

Musical analysis

"Thomas and Sally" is about fifty minutes in length and is notable in that it is the first English comic opera to be sung throughout. The orchestration is also unusual for a lighter opera of this period, as Arne included clarinets in the score which were usually only used in tragic pieces. The nautical themes in the libretto led Arne to compose a sturdy score that includes a boistrous hunting song for the Squire. Sally's songs are written in an opera buffo style.

Roles

ynopsis

Act One

Sally is distraught over the impending loss of Thomas who is about to embark on a sea voyage which will separate them for a long time. The lovers tearfully say goodbye to one another. Meanwhile, the squire is infatuated with Sally but has not pursued her because of Thomas. Now that Thomas is gone, the squire decides to try to woo Sally under the encouragement of Dorcas. Sally spurns the squire. Seeing that he has failed, Dorcas tries to help him out by advising Sally to celebrate her youth. Sally, however, remains firm in her devotion to Thomas.

Act Two

The squire and Dorcas continue to plot together in the attempt to woo Sally. Just as it seems like Sally may give in, Thomas returns to rescue Sally and the two declare that they will marry.

References

* [http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=28&Mese=11&Anno=1760&Giornata=&Testo=&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Almanac, accessed 5 June 2008]


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