Composer

:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1936

First Performance

:

Sep 8, 1937

Average_duration

:

6:48

Ralph Vaughan Williams composed "The Poisoned Kiss" in 1929, and it premiered on June 6th of that year at the Royal College of Music in London. The opera is in three acts and features a libretto by Evelyn Sharp, based on a story by Richard Garnett. The first act of "The Poisoned Kiss" introduces the audience to the main characters: the Duke, his daughter, and the sorcerer, Cuddy. The Duke is determined to find a suitable husband for his daughter, but she is in love with a commoner named John. Cuddy offers to help the couple by giving John a potion that will make him irresistible to the Duke's daughter. However, the potion is actually a poison, and John dies shortly after drinking it. The second act takes place in the underworld, where John meets the Queen of the Night and her court. The Queen is impressed by John's bravery and offers to bring him back to life if he can solve a riddle. John succeeds, and the Queen keeps her promise, sending him back to the land of the living. In the final act, John returns to the Duke's court, where he reveals the truth about Cuddy's potion. The Duke is furious and orders Cuddy to be executed, but the sorcerer manages to escape. John and the Duke's daughter are reunited, and the opera ends with a joyful celebration. "The Poisoned Kiss" is notable for its use of folk melodies and traditional English music. Vaughan Williams was a collector of folk songs, and he incorporated many of these tunes into the opera's score. The music is often lush and romantic, with sweeping melodies and rich harmonies. However, there are also moments of darkness and tension, particularly in the scenes set in the underworld. Overall, "The Poisoned Kiss" is a charming and engaging opera that showcases Vaughan Williams' skill as a composer and his love for English folk music.

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