“Falstaff” by Giuseppe Verdi

Premiere / 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

original libretto
line-by-line of the original libretto

History

• 1893 February 9 — World premiere (first performance) of Verdi’s "Falstaff" at Teatro alla Scala (Milan).
• 1895 February 4 — "Falstaff" (Giuseppe Verdi) was first performed at the Metropolitan Opera (New York).

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	$21.00
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	$38.31
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	$20.13
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	$45.34
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	$19.99
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	$13.28

External links

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Recordings on operadis-opera-discography.org.uk