| Giuseppe Verdi operas |
|
• Rigoletto (1851) • Il trovatore (1853) • La traviata (1853) • Les vêpres siciliennes (1855) • Un ballo in maschera (1859) • La forza del destino (1862) • Aida (1871) • Otello (1887) • Falstaff (1893) |
“Falstaff” by Giuseppe Verdi
ФальÑтафPremiere / date of written: 9 February 1893
Falstaff (Italian pronunciation: [ˈfalstaf]) is an opera in three acts by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901). The libretto was adapted by Arrigo Boito from Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry IV, parts 1 and 2. The work premiered on 9 February 1893 at La Scala, Milan.
Verdi wrote Falstaff, which was the last of his 28 operas, as he was approaching the age of 80. It was his second comedy, and his third work based on a Shakespeare play, following Macbeth and Otello. The plot revolves around the thwarted, sometimes farcical, efforts of the fat knight, Sir John Falstaff, to seduce two married women to gain access to their husbands' wealth.
Libretti
| # | Language | Authors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Italian
  |
Arrigo Boito |
| 2 |
English
|
Amanda Holden |
original libretto
line-by-line of the original libretto
Audio recordings
| Year | Cast | Conductor, Opera chorus and orchestra |
Label, Comment |
Buy |
| 1932 | Falstaff — Giacomo Rimini, Ford — Emilio Ghirardini, Fenton — Roberto D'Alessio, Alice Ford — Pia Tassinari, Nannetta — Ines Alfani-Tellini, Mistress Quickly — Aurora Buades |
Lorenzo Molajoli Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan |
Audio CD: Naxos Records Cat: 8110198-99 |
|
| 1950 | Falstaff — Giuseppe Valdengo, Ford — Frank Guarrera, Fenton — Antonio Madasi, Alice Ford — Herva Nelli, Nannetta — Teresa Stich-Randall, Mistress Quickly — Cloe Elmo |
Arturo Toscanini Robert Shaw Chorale and Orchestra |
Audio CD: RCA Cat: B00004R8ME Broadcast performance recorded in Carnegie Hall, New York |
|
| 1957
|
Falstaff — Tito Gobbi, Ford — Rolando Panerai, Fenton — Luigi Alva, Alice Ford — Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Nannetta — Anna Moffo, Mistress Quickly — Fedora Barbieri, Dr. Cajus — Tomaso Spataro, Dardolfo — Renato Ercolani, Pistola — Nicola Zaccaria, Meg Page — Nan Merriman |
Herbert von Karajan Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra |
Audio CD: EMI Classics Cat: CDM 5 67083 2 |
|
| 1963 | Falstaff — Geraint Evans, Ford — Robert Merrill, Fenton — Alfredo Kraus, Alice Ford — Ilva Ligabue, Nannetta — Mirella Freni, Mistress Quickly — Giulietta Simionato |
Sir Georg Solti RCA Italiana Opera Chorus and Orchestra |
Audio CD: Decca Cat: B000787WWE The chorus and orchestra were those of Rome Opera recorded pseudonymously |
|
| 1982 | Falstaff — Renato Bruson, Ford — Leo Nucci, Fenton — Dalmacio Gonzalez, Alice Ford — Katia Ricciarelli, Nannetta — Barbara Hendricks, Mistress Quickly — Lucia Valentini Terrani, Dr. Cajus — Michael Sells, Dardolfo — Francis Egerton, Pistola — William Wilderman, Meg Page — Brenda Boozer |
Carlo Maria Giulini Los Angeles Master Chorale and Los Angeles Philharmonic |
Audio CD: Deutsche Grammophon Cat: B000001G4L Recorded at performances in Los Angeles |
|
| 2001 | Falstaff — Bryn Terfel, Ford — Thomas Hampson, Fenton — Danil Shtoda, Alice Ford — Adrianne Pieczonka, Nannetta — Dorothea Röschmann, Mistress Quickly — Larissa Diadkova |
Claudio Abbado Rundfunkchor Berlin and Berlin Philharmonic |
Audio CD: DGG Cat: 289 471 194-2 |
|
External links
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Recordings on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk
- Sheet Music — www.sheetmusicplus.com