Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets have inspired numerous musical creations. Weber’s opera Oberon was his last work before he died in London. The ravishing Serenade to Music by Vaughan Williams, was written as a plea for peace during World War II. Verdi was drawn to Shakespeare’s understanding of the vulnerable human condition and Otello illustrates his mastery of dramatic theater. Elgar’s Falstaff is a virtuosic symphonic portrayal of the Bard’s burley rogue as outlined in Henry IV Parts 1 & 2. Actor Bill Barry recites salient passages before we perform the musical works.