Tom Jones
on CD for Naxos, August 2009
"In the Viking Book
of Opera, Richard Traubner dubs Tom Jones the best of German's five
operas (or operettas). I do not think any of the solos in the work,
enjoyable though they are, match 'O peaceful England' 'The Yeomen of
England' or 'The English Rose' in the composer's earlier Merrie
England, but there are some fine ones nevertheless, be they
light-hearted, folk-like songs such as Squire Western's 'On Januairy
morning', Tom's spirited entrance with 'West Country lad' or the lilt
of Sophia's 'Dream o'Day Jill'.
"Simon Butteriss and Suart convey the fun of their comic roles without
descending into embarrassing exhibitions of stilted and forced
overplaying. There is enough music in each voice to enable them to sing
rather than declaim. Butteriss is one of two who assumes a west country
accent, the other being Donald Maxwell, who firmly voices the tale of
two silly maidens enticed into a coppice on hearing a cuckoo . . . in
January! Paul Carey Jones makes a
sonorous mark in Allworthy's contribution to the
Madrigal Quartet.
"Tom's role is very well taken by Richard Morrison, tonally focused in
his songs, including 'A Foundling Boy', one of the bonuses. The booklet
lists Germont, Enrico and Don Giovanni among his operatic repertoire,
so one will expect the strong tone, with which comes an easy top. He
produces a winning performance. German's colourful orchestration is
given its due by Russell Hulme's players. If you like a good tune and a
story with a happy ending, bear this delightful work in mind. I was
hearing the whole opera for the first time for many years and
thoroughly enjoyed it. And I haven't mentioned Honour's 'The Green
Ribbon' or . . . or . . . Will someone now record German's A Princess
of Kensington, please?"
John T. Hughes, International Record
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