Shakespeare
Other operas based on plays by Shakespeare:
Otello (Othello) - Giuseppe Verdi
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Benjamin Britten
Anthony and Cleopatra - Samuel Barber
Otello (Othello) - Gioachino Rossini
Merry Wives of Windsor
Other operas based on Shakespeare's play about Sir John Falstaff, The Merry Wives of Windsor:
Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (The Merry Wives of Windsor) - Otto Nicolai
Falstaff - Giuseppe Verdi
Information about the opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Verdi's only comic opera, written when he was eighty, based on Shakespeare's character Falstaff who attempts to woo two wealthy married women in order to avoid bankruptcy.
Recommended recordings on CD
Davis/Pertusi/Alvarez (LSO Live LSO 0055)
A superb live concert performance that perfectly captures the comedy of the story.
London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis.
Cast: Michele Pertusi (Sir John Falstaff), Carlos Alvarez (Ford), Ana Ibarra (Alice Ford), Maria José Moreno (Nannetta), Bülent Bezdüz (Fenton).
LSO Live LSO 0055
Karajan/Gobbi/Panerai (EMI CMS5 67083-2)
A fine performance with a superlative cast and perfect pacing make this an essential Verdi recording.
Philharmonia Chorus & Orchestra, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, 1956.
Cast: Tito Gobbi (Sir John Falstaff), Rolando Panerai (Ford), Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Alice Ford), Anna Moffo (Nannetta), Luigi Alva (Fenton).
EMI CMS5 67083-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Mehta/Raimondi/Lanza (Arthaus Musik 107 309)
Flastaff attempts to seduce Alice in Verdi's opera Falstaff.
A splendid production from a live performance at the Teatro Comunale, Florence, in 2006, with wonderful sets and a uniformly good cast.
Florence Maggio Musicale Orchestra, Florence Maggio Musicale Chorus, conducted by Zubin Mehta, 2006.
Cast: Ruggero Raimondi (Sir John Falstaff), Manuel Lanza (Ford), Barbara Frittoli (Alice Ford), Mariola Cantarero (Nannetta), Daniil Shtoda (Fenton).
Arthaus Musik 107 309
Gatti/Maestri/Cavalletti (C Major 711108)
Zurich Opera House Chorus, Zurich Opera Mozart Orchestra, conducted by Daniele Gatti, 2011.
Cast: Ambrogio Maestri (Sir John Falstaff), Massimo Cavalletti (Ford), Barbara Frittoli (Alice Ford), Eva Liebau (Nannetta), Javier Camarena (Fenton).
C Major 711108
Sandner/Weikl/Aguirre (Arthaus Musik 101 537)
A colourful production inspired by the opera's motto "All the world's a burlesque". Recorded live at the Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern in 2010.
Orchestra and Chorus of the Pfalztheater Kaiserslautern, conducted by Uwe Sandner, 2010.
Cast: Bernd Weikl (Sir John Falstaff), Carlos Aguirre (Ford), Adelheid Fink (Alice Ford), Arlette Meißner (Nannetta).
Arthaus Musik 101 537
Pritchard/Gramm/Luxon (Arthaus Musik 101 083)
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, conducted by John Pritchard, 1976.
Cast: Donald Gramm (Sir John Falstaff), Benjamin Luxon (Ford), Kay Griffel (Alice Ford), Elizabeth Gale (Nannetta), Max René Cosotti (Fenton).
Arthaus Musik 101 083
Haitink/Terfel/Frittoli (Opus Arte OA 0812 D)
The opening production of London's newly restored Royal Opera House, first broadcast live on BBC television in December 1999. Recommended.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra, conducted by Bernard Haitink, 1999.
Cast: Bryn Terfel (Sir John Falstaff), Barbara Frittoli (Ford).
Opus Arte OA 0812 D