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Falstaff is an operatic commedia lirica in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi, adapted by Arrigo Boito from Shakespeare's plays The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry IV. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Arrigo Boito ( February 24, 1842 &ndash June 10, 1918) aka Enrico Giuseppe Giovanni Boito Pseudonym Tobia Gorrio was an Italian William Shakespeare ( baptised The Merry Wives of Windsor is a Comedy by William Shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597 Henry IV may refer to Henry IV Holy Roman Emperor, the first monarch styled as King of the Romans, signifying he had not yet been anointed and crowned It was Verdi's last opera, written in the composer's ninth decade, and only the second of his twenty-six operas to be a comedy. It was also the third of Verdi's operas to be based on a Shakespearean play, following his earlier Macbeth and Otello. Macbeth is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, with an Italian Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave and additions by Andrea Maffei Otello is an Opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian Libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare 's play

The first performance took place on February 9, 1893 at La Scala in Milan, Italy to great success. Events 474 - Zeno crowned as co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire. Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Teatro alla Scala (or La Scala, as it is known in Milan, Italy, is one of the world's most famous Opera houses The theatre was Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. While not as immensely popular as the works that immediately preceded it, Aida and Otello, Falstaff has long been a critical favorite for its refinement and melodic invention. This article is about the marketing term AIDA For other uses of the term see Aida (disambiguation. Otello is an Opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian Libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare 's play

Contents

Roles

Role Voice type Premiere Cast, February 9, 1893[1]
(Conductor: Edoardo Mascheroni[2])
Sir John Falstaff, a fat knight baritone Victor Maurel
Ford, a wealthy man baritone Antonio Pini-Corsi
Alice Ford, his wife soprano Emma Zilli
Nannetta, their daughter soprano Adelina Stehle
Meg Page mezzo-soprano Virginia Guerrini
Mistress Quickly contralto Giuseppina Pasqua
Fenton, one of Nannetta's suitors tenor Edoardo Garbin
Dr Caius tenor Giovanni Paroli
Bardolfo, a follower of Falstaff tenor Paolo Pelagelli-Rossetti
Pistola, a follower of Falstaff bass Vittorio Arimondi
Mine Host of the Garter Inn Silent Attilio Pulcini
Robin, Falstaff's page Silent

Synopsis

Act 1

A room at the Garter Inn

Falstaff is surrounded by his servants Bardolph, Pistola and the innkeeper, when Dr. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. Victor Maurel ( June 17, 1848 in Marseilles - October 22, 1923 in New York City) was a French Baritone. Antonio Pini-Corsi (June 1859 - April 21, 1918) was an Italian Buffo Baritone of international renown This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice Sir John Falstaff is a Fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare as a companion to Prince Hal the future King Henry V. Caius arrives and accuses him of robbery, but the excited doctor is soon ejected. Falstaff hands letters to his servants for delivery to Mistress Ford and to Mistress Page. The letters, which purport of Falstaff's love for the respectable women, are intended to seduce them (although he is really seducing them for the money). Bardolph and Pistol refuse, however, claiming that 'honor' prevents them from obeying his orders. Sending the letters by a page instead, Falstaff confronts his servants ('Che dunque l'onore? Una parola!' -- 'What, then, is honor? A word!') and chases them out of his sight.

Ford's garden

Alice and Meg have received Falstaff's letters, both of identical contents. They exchange them, and in conjunction with Mistress Quickly, resolve to punish the knight. The three are also none too pleased with Master Ford, who is intending to give his daughter Nannetta in marriage to Dr. Caius. This, they resolve, will not happen. Meanwhile, Ford has been apprised of the letters by Bardolph and Pistol. All three are thirsty for vengeance. A brief love duet between Fenton and Nannetta follows; the women return home and, through Mistress Quickly, a maid, invite Falstaff to an assignation. The men also arrive upon the scene, and Bardolph and Pistol are persuaded to introduce Ford to Falstaff under an assumed name.

Act 2

A room at the Garter Inn

Bardolph and Pistol (now in the pay of Ford), pretending to beg for forgiveness for past transgressions, announce to their master the arrival of Mistress Quickly, who delivers the invitation. Ford is now introduced as Signor Fontana, who offers money to the fat knight to intercede for him with Mistress Ford. Falstaff agrees with pleasure, and while he attires himself in splendid array in his chamber, Ford is consumed with jealousy ('È sogno o realtà?' -- 'Is it a dream or reality?').

A room in Ford's house

As Mistress Quickly announces the coming of Falstaff, Mistress Ford has a large clothes basket placed in readiness. Falstaff's attempts to seduce the lady are cut short as Mistress Quickly reports the arrival of Master Ford. When the angry Ford with his friends appear to capture Falstaff, the latter hides in the basket. In the meantime, a love scene between Fenton and Nannetta takes place behind the screen, and the men returning, hear the sound of a kiss; they think to entrap Falstaff, but find Fenton, who is ordered by Ford to leave. When the men again proceed with the search, the women order the wash basket to be thrown into the ditch, where Falstaff is compelled to endure the jeers of the crowd.

Act 3

Before the inn

Falstaff, in a gloomy mood, curses the sorry state of the world. Some mulled wine, however, soon improves his mood. The fat knight again receives an invitation through Mistress Quickly, which is overheard by the men. After Falstaff, dubious at first, has promised to go to Herne's Oak dressed as the Black Huntsman, the place of meeting, he enters the house with Mistress Quickly, and the men concoct a plan for his punishment. Dr. Caius is promised the hand of Nannetta, and is told of her disguise. The plot is overheard by Mistress Quickly.

Herne's Oak in Windsor Park

A moonlit midnight. The women disguise Fenton as a monk, and arrange that he shall spoil the plans of Dr. Caius. Falstaff's love scene with Mistress Ford is interrupted by the announcement that witches are approaching, and the men disguised as elves and fairies thrash Falstaff soundly. When their vengeance is satisfied, Dr. Caius finds that he has captured Bardolph instead of Nannetta in the garb of a fairy queen, but Fenton and Nannetta, with the consent of Ford, are joined in wedlock. Falstaff, pleased to find himself not the only dupe, proclaims in a fugue that the whole world is a joke and all are figures of fun (Tutto nel mondo è burla. . . Tutti gabbati!).

Synopsis source: [3]

Noted arias

Scoring

Verdi scored Falstaff for 3 flutes (third doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (triangle, cymbals, bass drum), harp, and strings. In addition, a guitar, natural horn, and bell are heard from offstage.

Selected recordings

Year Cast
(Falstaff, Ford, Fenton, Mrs. Ford, Mistress Quickly)		 Conductor,
Opera House and Orchestra		 Label
1957 Tito Gobbi,
Rolando Penerai,
Luigi Alva,
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf,
Fedora Barbieri		 Herbert von Karajan,
Philharmonia Orchestra and chorus		 Audio CD: EMI Classics
Cat: CDM 5 67083 2
2001 Bryn Terfel,
Thomas Hampson,
Danil Shtoda,
Adrianna Pieczonka,
Larissa Diadkova		 Claudio Abbado,
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and chorus		 Audio CD: DGG
Cat: 289 471 194-2

Notes

  1. ^ List of singers taken from Budden, Julian: The Operas of Verdi (Cassell), vol 3, p. Tito Gobbi ( October 24, 1913 &ndash March 5, 1984) was an Italian Baritone. WikipediaWikiProject_Opera#Infoboxes --> Luigi Alva ( 10 April 1927) was the foremost tenore leggiero Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, DBE ( December 9, 1915 &ndash August 3, 2006) was a German -born Austrian British WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Herbert von Karajan ( April 5 The Philharmonia is an Orchestra based in London. Since 1995 it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. Bryn Terfel Jones CBE (brɨn ˈtɛrvɛl born November 9, 1965) is a Welsh Bass-baritone opera and concert singer For the English runner see Tommy Hampson WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Thomas Hampson WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Claudio Abbado, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (born June The Berlin Philharmonic (in German: Die Berliner Philharmoniker) is an Orchestra based in Berlin, Germany. 416.
  2. ^ Ibid, p. 430
  3. ^ The plot description is adapted from The Opera Goer's Complete Guide by Leo Melitz, 1921 version

References

External links

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