Verdi's Falstaff
This opera was the last of our 4 performances at Teatro Regio.
Falstaff is one of Verdi's comic operas.
The libretto was adapted by Arrigo Boito from Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor and scenes from Henry IV.
The work premiered in 1893 at La Scala, Milan.
Some of our fellow travellers in the private boxes - Marilyn, Estella, Pam and Faye.
Pam and Faye
Faye's photo of us.
Ray and Carmel, Marilyn and Estella
While Margaret loved the performers and the experience, she was no fan of the modern setting.
Fallstaff synopsis
Act 1
During the reign of Henry IV (1399-1413), in the middle of England, Windsor, a fat elderly knight, Sir John Falstaff, drinks alcohol at the Garter Inn.
But he does not have any money, so he wrote love letters to two rich married women, Alice and Meg. Alice and Meg know that both of them were given the same letter from Falstaff,
and they both get very angry. In addition, Alice’s husband, Ford, also knows about Falstaff’s letter, and he gets angry, too.
Act 2
When Ford is away from home, Alice invites Falstaff to her home. According to her plan, Meg suddenly appears to surprise him. But, Meg informs Alice that Ford is coming home soon.
Falstaff is surprised! Alice advises him that he should hide himself in the large laundry basket.
When Falstaff hides himself in it, Alice orders her servants to throw the laundry basket out the window into the river. The women and Ford are satisfied when they see Falstaff soaking wet.
Act 3
There is another problem. Ford wants his daughter, Nannetta, to marry a doctor, Caius. But, Nannetta has a lover, Fenton.
Alice and Meg invite Falstaff to Windsor Great Park at midnight. Falstaff is pleased and goes there.
But, he is surrounded by villagers disguised as fairies. Falstaff believes that any person who sees fairies is dead.
When he lies himself down on the ground, all the people poke him to punish him.
And then, according to Ford’s plan, he attempts to announce to the villagers about the marriage of Nannetta to Dr. Caius.
But, Alice, that is Nannetta’s mother, interrupts his plan, and Nannetta can announce to everyone that she will marry her lover, Fenton. Ford also reluctantly accepts this.
Falstaff says, “Tutto nel mondo e burla (Everything in the world is a joke)” and everyone starts laughing.