Opera Scotland

At the Boar's Head

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Music

Gustav Holst (born Cheltenham, 21 September 1874; died London, 25 May 1934.

Text

Composer

Source

Scenes from two plays Henry IV Parts I and II by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

 

Premieres

First Performance: Manchester (Opera House), 3 April 1925.

First Performance in Scotland: Edinburgh (King's Theatre), 20 October 1925.

 

Background

At the Boar's Head is a charming, though little-known, work, in which Holst cleverly fuses the comic scenes from Henry IV with a number of traditional English folk tunes. The melodies fit the familiar words remarkably neatly.

 

Characters

Sir John Falstaff (bass)

Prince Hal (tenor)

Doll Tearsheet (mezzo-soprano)

Dame Quickly (soprano)

Pistol (baritone)

Bardolph (tenor)

Peto (tenor)

Gadshill (baritone)

Poins (bass)