A Welsh Sunset

"A Welsh Sunset" is a one-act comic opera composed by Philip Michael Faraday, with a libretto by Frederick Fenn. It was produced at the Savoy Theatre from 15 July 1908 and played with revivals of "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "The Pirates of Penzance" until 17 October 1908, and from 2 December 1908 until 24 February 1909, a total of 85 performances.

A copy of the vocal score (published in 1908 by Metzler), but no printed libretto, is found in British Library. The score contains all the dialogue. Faraday managed English operetta companies in the years immediately prior to World War I, but earlier he composed the comic opera "Amasis" (1906) [http://www.halhkmusic.com/castlists/amasis.html] and "The Islander" (1910).

ynopsis

Jenny and Griffith are in love. Griffith has a great tenor voice and has been singing an audition for Covent Garden opera. It is evening, Jenny and her mother are waiting outside Mrs. Jones's Cottage on a Welsh hillside for the boys to come home from Bala. They are joined by the other village girls.

Griffith has been successful, and when he arrives he tells Jenny of the wonderful rich and famous life that awaits her in London. Jenny asks her lover to sing to her before he goes home. She says, "I feel tonight as though tomorrow wouldn't come for years and years." Griffith sings to her, saying that it is she in his heart that makes him sing. When the song is over, she appears to be asleep, and he takes her hand, but it is lifeless. He exclaims, "What's the good of fame and money now? It was for her, and now I can give her nothing!"

Musical numbers

*No. 1. Solo for Jenny -- "Come my love, for I am crying"
*No. 2. Solo for Griffith with chorus -- "Heart of my soul"
*No. 3. Men's trio with chorus -- "In London he will be all the rage"
*No. 4. Solo for Griffith -- "Hush't lies the land"
*No. 5. Chorus -- "Westward where the sunlight dies"

Cast information

The original cast was:
*Jenny Jones (A girl in weak health, betrothed to Griffith David). Beatrice Meredith
*Griffith David (A young Welshman). Strafford Moss
*Mrs. Jones (Jenny's mother). Ethel Morrison

**Village girls:
*Mary Fewlass} Mabel Graham
*Nancy Raine} Beatrice Boarer
*Gwenny Davis} Bertha Lewis

**Griffith's companions:
*Owen Rhys} Leo Sheffield
*John Lloyd} Sydney Granville
*Morgan Llewellyn} Allen Morris

References

* [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/companions/welsh_sunset/index.html "A Welsh Sunset" homepage at the G&S Archive]

External links

* [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/companions/index.html List of Savoy opera companion pieces]
* [http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/companions/gas2.html Article on Savoy curtain raisers]
* [http://diamond.boisestate.edu/gas/companions/welsh_sunset/index.html Site devoted to the piece, including links to the libretto, original cast list and Midi files] .
* [http://www.musicweb-international.com/garlands/50.htm Information about Faraday]